WITH most of their first team regulars unavailable, Bala fulfilled their Division One North fixture at Bro Ffestinog with a team full of Seconds and Under 19s players.

Yet they still went home over the Migneint with a shock 13-0 away win over local rivals Bro Ffestiniog, having dominated most of the territory and possession.

Bala full back Eben Jones should have opened the scoring soon in the match, but pulled the penalty kick wide of the posts.

Winger Iwan Williams then broke from inside his own 22, and a neat chip over the oncoming defence took him close, but Ffestiniog somehow managed to clear.

A couple of penalties against Bro kept the pressure on the home side, and Bala opted for a lineout, but they were unable to pierce the determined home defence.

Jones, however, took the second penalty from 38 metres to earn a three point lead.

To make matters worse for Bro, they were then down to 14 as wing Ian Roberts was sin-binned for a not rolling away.

A good back row move from Bro’s James, Morris and Parry was the closest they got to the try line throughout the first half, but Bala turned over and cleared.

Bala’s number eight Dochan Roberts went very close from a scrum five and should have scored, but for a knock on.

Then, with only five minutes left of the half, Bro were awarded another yellow card, to Marc Morris for a high tackle.

From the penalty Bala opted to take a scrum and fly half Clwyd Edwards went through, but he was denied by a try-saving tackle from Bro’s Rhodri Williams.

The two sides went into the break with the scoreline looking very finely poised at 0-3, but within 10 minutes of the re-start the match went with uncontested scrums, as both of Bala’s props were injured.

This suited the away side, as Ffestiniog’s scrum has been very strong all season.

A poor clearance by Bro was gathered by fly half Edwards, and a strong run took him to within metres of the try line, before offloading for hooker Garan Davies to crash over, with Jones adding the extras.

Following the try Bro upped the tempo and a high tackle from Bala’s Edwards saw the fly half binned for 10 minutes.

Bro pushed on and when they opted to kick for touch, they went through 10 phases, but a knock on stopped the attack.

With only minutes left of the match, Bala were awarded a penalty, and they also opted for a lineout, and after four phases Eben Jones’ drop goal sealed the victory.

Bro Ffestiniog return to league action on 18 February with a trip to face Ruthin.