BALA bowed out of the Swalec Plate at the first hurdle as they were narrowly beaten 10-13 at home to a determined Ruthin outfit, despite a spirited fightback.

Ruthin were on the attack from the start and were 5-0 after five minutes when centre Emyr Gwynedd put winger Josh Wilson through to score an unconverted try.

For the rest of the first period, Bala were pretty much pinned into their own half as the Blues tried to get more points on the board.

Yet, despite good phase play and some intelligent kicking from Ruthin, the home defence held firm, and there was no further score before the whistle blew.

Straight after the break the visitors had to withstand some pressure of their own, but their lines were cleared and the hosts conceded a penalty in Ruthin’s half.

From the resulting lineout on Bala’s 22, some good phase play led to hooker Danny Miller putting centre Emyr Gwynedd through to score an unconverted try.

Bala tried to respond, but after good defence the Blues went back on the attack and they went further ahead courtesy of a penalty goal from fly half Nathan Jones.

With 25 minutes to go Bala turned up heat, and after another 10 minutes second row Moi Dafydd drove the pack over the Ruthin line from a lineout five yards out for the hosts’ first score.

Ruthin had to use all their resources to withstand the home attack, which they did until the 78th minute when, after tying up the Ruthin defence against pick and run, the ball was passed out to wing Elgan Evans to go over for an unconverted try.

With only three points between the teams, both sides tried to widen the gap in the few minutes left of injury time, but both defences held and the whistle blew with Ruthin winning by 13-10.

Results: Bala 10 Ruthin 13; Builth Wells 21 Brynamman 23; Caernarfon 5 Pwllheli 45; Colwyn Bay walkover against Dolgellau; Llandudno 20 Mold 9; Llangefni 16 Bethesda 10; and Nant Conwy 34 Bro Ffestiniog 8.