LLANDUDNO RFC V COLWYN BAY RFC 23/12/06 

COLWYN BAY WIN CLOSE DERBY GAME

A bumper holiday crowd was treated to an exciting display of quality rugby football by both sides in this derby fixture at Llandudno’s Maesdu Road ground.  There was little to choose between the sides, in a sea-sawing game, until Colwyn Bay secured victory in the dying moments of the game.

Enterprising play by both sets of backs throughout the first half was met by solid tackling and forward exchanges were even until, just before half time, a long kick by Bay outside half Matt Anwyl was quickly followed by a driving maul for Bay captain Dave Brown to cross for a try.  Matt Anwyl added the conversion to give the Bay a 0-7 lead at half time.

Llandudno started the second half strongly with a series of driving mauls and, following a penalty, secured a line-out on the Bay line.  A driving maul from the back of the line-out resulted in an unconverted try by flanker James Roach to take the score to 5-7.  Llandudno dominated possession for the early part of the half and an attacking move was finished with a neat side step inside for a well taken try, near the posts, by Llandudno outside half Pat Coy.  A conversion by Rhodri Carlton-Jones gave Llandudno a 12-7 lead

The Bay came back on the attack and a 20 metre break by centre Dave Hocknell was finished off with a well taken try by centre Jody Pryor, converted by Matt Anwyl to give the Bay a 12-14 lead.  The Bay forwards started to assert themselves, pressing into Llandudno territory.  Bay scrum half Josh Leach picked up a ball from the back of a scrum on the Llandudno 22 and a neat grubber kick to the corner gave winger Ash James the opportunity to score in the corner to put the Bay 12-19 in front.   

Llandudno fought back strongly and won a line-out on the Bay line for Mike Hughes to force his way over for a try.  The conversion by Rhodri Carlton-Jones levelled the scores 19-19.  At this stage, with only 10 minutes to go, it was anybody’s game. 

However the Bay finished stronger and a neat chip by Matt Anwyl on the Llandudno 22 was followed up by winger Johnny Davies for an opportunist try to put the Bay 19-24 in front.  Shortly afterwards Josh Leach broke from a scrum on the Llandudno 22 and his well timed pass resulted in Johnny Davies crossing for his second try to give the Bay a 19-29 win.