BRO FFESTINIOG cut loose to register a comfortable home win over Flint with an impressive team performance, which gained the Quarrymen the second promotion spot back into Division One North next season.

The hosts were seldom troubled in this convincing 43-0 victory, crossing over for seven tries, including a hat-trick for man of the match Mathew Hayden.

The game’s opening try came on two minutes, as Bro were awarded a kickable penalty following a deliberate knock-on but chose to kick for touch. A catch and drive from the lineout was finished off by flanker Marc Morris, with Danial McCormick converting.

Hayden claimed his first try soon after, the scrum half taking a quick tap penalty and crossing over from short range. McCormick again added the extras.

It was McCormick who created the third of Bro’s tries on 20 minutes, when a deft chip over by the young fly half put Flint on the back foot and centre Steve Price tackled man and ball. Bro recycled quickly through flanker Dylan Daniels, who gained some yardage before offloading and inside pass to lock Osian Jones to crash over for an unconverted try.

Flint had some possession and were constantly surging forward through flanker Jamie Elder, centre Matt Harvey was finding some gaps, but throughout the match their attacks were mainly stopped at source by Bro’s impressive defence.

The match was then delayed for nearly 10 minutes following a knee injury to the referee, Colin Scott, but thankfully he was able to continue after some attention from the home physio.

When the match resumed Bro immediately scored their bonus point try, Price once more stealing turnover ball in midfield with prop Paul Kalafuz charging through would-be tacklers.

The home forwards went through seven phases before the ball was sent out to the backs and centre Dewi Atherton showed his ‘ballet dancing’ skills by pirouetting three times, before offloading to full back and head coach Edwyn Roberts to score, with McCormick adding the conversion.

In a half dominated by the home team, Flint hardly crossed Bro’s 10m line and the sides went into the break with the score at 26-0.

Seven minutes into the second half Bro were awarded a scrum deep inside Flint’s 25, number eight Dewi James created a platform for Hayden to cross over for an unconverted try.

Flint’s centre Harvey ran out of defence and crossed the half way line. When he was tackled and a ruck formed, Bro were penalised and the visitors kicked for touch, but Bro won the lineout and were able to clear.

A sniping run from the back of the scrum soon after saw Hyden crossing over to claim his hat-trick, but the score went unconverted.

Flint were awarded a penalty 5m from Bro’s try line, a quick tap was taken by Ryan Beck - the scrum half went close, but Bro stole turnover ball and cleared.

The final try came after another Flint attack was thwarted on the half way line with substitute full back Dan P Jones winning turnover ball, spotting an opening in broken play and racing 40m up field, before offloading a short pass for sub right wing Steve Lay to charge onto and score under the posts. McCormick also added the conversion.