RUTHIN visited Bala for the second time this season, but they were not able to come close to repeating their win in the previous match, as the home side came through for a convincing 42-3 win.

The Blues came under pressure from the start, and although they defended competently, that pressure increased significantly on 10 minutes when they went down to 14 men for the rest of the match when a player was sent off.

Bala’s Owain Aled kicked the penalty goal and a further one after 20 minutes, but the Blues were still able to mount some good attacks, albeit without being able to cross the home side’s try line.

After 35 minutes, Bala returned to the visitors’ half and after a short period of pressure were awarded a penalty try.

Ruthin were beginning to look a bit ragged, and right on half time Iestyn Dylan Jones ran through the defence for Bala’s second try, which was also converted by Owain Aled for a lead of 20-0 at half time.

Straight after half-time, the Blues finally got points on the scoreboard with a penalty goal from Nathan Jones, but that was to be their only score in the match.

Ten minutes into the second half, Elgan Evans then grabbed another Bala try.

Ruthin responded well, but whilst they had good possession and flung the ball around in Bala’s half, the home defence was up to anything that they could offer.

As the home side’s confidence grew, and the visitors tired and began to miss tackles and lose out in set pieces, it was only a matter of time before the hosts would get their bonus point try, and Rhydian Jones obliged after 65 minutes’ play.

Bala then added a further two tries from Ilan Rowlands and Chris Roberts before the final whistle to win convincingly 42-3.

This weekend’s Division One North fixtures: Bala v Llangefni; Bethesda v Colwyn Bay; Caernarfon v Llandudno; Mold v Bro Ffestiniog. WRU Plate: Maesteg Celt v Pwllheli; Whitland v Nant Conwy.

• BRO FFESTINIOG progressed to the quarter-finals of The Conwy Land Rover North Wales Senior Cup with a 24-0 win against Dolgellau on a bitterly cold night.

Their forwards were in rampant form, not allowing a committed and hard-working Dolgellau side any form of platform to work from, and dominating the loose, the breakdown and the contact area.

Despite a bright opening by the visitors, Bro went ahead after five minutes. A lineout drive from five metres out saw No 8 Dewi James cross for their first score.

Ten minutes later, Bro capitalised on a misunderstanding from the base of a Dolgellau scrum, and flanker Llion Kerry went over under the posts. Wing Gareth Davies converted for a 12-0 cushion.

Dolgellau’s young side were up for the tough battle, with flanker Dafydd George prominent in defence and attack, but they just could not contain the home eight.

A chip ahead by Bro scrum half Aron Roberts saw wing Ian Roberts gather and sprint over to put the home team 17-0 ahead, and that is how the half ended.

When Bro second row Ewart Williams crossed under the posts three minutes into the second half, and Gareth Davies converted, it looked ominous for the visitors, with Bro in a commanding 24-0 lead.

There was to be no further scoring, however, as the visitors scrapped for every ball and made in-roads on a number of occasions, only for the home side to win turn-overs at critical times and break out again with some neat inter-passing.

The visitors defended heroically throughout the half to prevent any further Bro score from these counter-attacks.

For Dolgellau, their youngsters, Lewis Jones, Henri Roberts, Dafydd Roberts and Dafydd George will learn from the experience of this very difficult match, and all did well under constant pressure from a fired-up Bro, as typified by the performance of their second row Dylan Davies, who was awarded Man of the Match.