Cobra 29

WRU Plate District J1

The occasion of this match taking place was far more important than the result to Dolgellau and their loyal support, as it has been 20 long months since Ruthin took the spoils at the Marian on 25 January 2020.

The restart has been disruptive to say the least, with several mishaps, unavailability, isolation, training ground injuries and postponements, leaving the hosts with severe selection headache.

However with the aid of a couple of Cobra players, they put up a spirited display, and they managed to take the lead after 15 minutes when ‘on-loan’ prop, Rees Price barged over for a try that Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts gleefully converted to put the hosts 7-3 ahead, to cancel out Cobra stand-off Will Worthington’s third minute penalty.

Dolgellau continued to pressure the visitors, and wing Geraint Owen and full back Rob Pugh came close.

However, a well-drilled Cobra outfit, had the edge, and number eight Jack Jukes finished a quickly taken penalty to score from 10 metres out, with five minutes of the half remaining.

Worthington added the extras to put Cobra 7-10 ahead.

In the last minute of the half, Worthington hoisted a perfect cross-field kick, which wing Ieuan Williams clung on to, and beat the cover to score out in the left corner to make it 7-15 at the interval.

Second row, Lloyd Bright scored two minutes into the second period, which with Worthington’s conversion, stretched their lead to 7-22, and the inspirational Jack Jukes rounded matters up with his second score after 25 minutes, with Worthington adding the conversion to make the final score 7-29.

Dolgellau will not be too despondent with this result, and welcome returns were made by second rows Leon Brooks and Danny Evans, hooker Celt Lewis and outside half Dafydd Roberts, as well as fine debuts for youngsters Daniel Thomas at scrum half, Simon Jones in the centres and Rhys Jarret on the wing.