IT could not have been closer as a penalty goal by Ruthin replacement Shay Owen midway through the second half secured a narrow 9-8 home win over Dolgellau at a very wet and muddy Cae Ddol.

The kick robbed Dolgellau of a victory they desperately needed, and for which their outstanding effort had deserved.

In the final analysis, a single point was all that had separated these two sides in both league games this season, following a 22-22 draw on the Marian last October.

Ruthin moved up the table to safety as a result, whilst Dolgellau languish at the bottom, which is a cruel reflection on their season, considering six of their losses have been within a score, and three of those matches by only a single point.

Such are the fine margins between success and failure in this very close league.

Dolgellau started well and were on top for the first 15 minutes as scrum half Jac Roberts came close to crossing following a snipe for the line, but he was held up by some stout defending on the try line.

Dolgellau had to settle for a penalty from skipper Gerwyn Thomas for a deserved 3-0 lead, but Ruthin fought their way back and brought themselves level with a penalty by Deian Lloyd Williams.

The hosts had the better of the latter stages of the half, but Dolgellau’s defence held firm and they had to be content with a second penalty goal from Lloyd Williams on half time to give them a 6-3 lead.

Dolgellau had the best possible start to the second half, when with only five minutes on the clock the referee played advantage for a Ruthin infringement.

A speculative cross field kick from stand-off Gerwyn Thomas caused panic amongst the home back three, and as the ball went loose in the in-goal area Dolgellau centre Dylan Evans took full advantage of the confusion around him to pounce and score the try, for a 6-8 lead.

Two minutes later Dolgellau centre, Dan Brazier came close to scoring, after a 10 metre burst for the line, but was judged to have been held up over the try line, before Ruthin relieved the pressure.

After missing one penalty, which went wide, replacement Shay Owen slotted over Ruthin’s third penalty, to put them back in the lead with what, ultimately, turned out to be the match winner.

With the pitch deteriorating and conditions going from bad to worse, Dolgellau gallantly tried to regain their lead - and the last five minutes were very tense.

Dolgellau’s Dion Jones went agonisingly close to winning the game with two late penalty attempts, but Ruthin held on for the most narrow of victories.

Dolgellau return to action at home to Bethesda in the quarter-finals of the North Wales Cup on Saturday, 27 February at Marian Mawr, kick-off is 2.30pm.