SEAHORSES PREVAIL IN TENSE SEMI-FINAL

 COLWYN BAY 13  NANT CONWY 3

Summer came to Rhos on Sea on May Day Monday when a Bay team weakened in crucial positions because of suspensions and injuries showed awesome defensive qualities to earn a Cup Final place against Ruthin by winning by one converted try, a drop goal and a penalty to one penalty against a spirited but strangely error prone Nant side.

Early exchanges were even until the fifteenth minute when No 8  Mark Earl won a great ball at the line out after a siege-gun kick for the corner by skipper Patrick Leach and after a number of rucks Earl himself was able to go over in the corner.  Wing Gareth Wynne converted.

The Seahorses held their opponents at bay for most of the rest of the first half where the Nant mid field feared to tread out wide for tackle after crunching tackle from Leach and fellow centre Lem Hocknell staunched each attacking move but the visitors were able to get themselves on the score sheet at last when they slotted a penalty having already squandered two chances.  Wynne also failed to convert a penalty chance.

Just before halftime full back Sean McDonagh found himself yellow carded for handling in the ruck after the Bay had been warned by the referee for persistent offending.

Turning round 7-3 up into the breeze the Bay’s defensive performance went from strength to strength.  Periods of pressure on their own line were twice repelled by strong rucking which on both occasions caused the visitors to spill the ball.

Long and telling kicks out of hand enabled the Bay to get useful field position and with penalty advantage, fly half Ashley James was able to drop a goal ten minutes into the second half.  The lead was extended to ten points five minutes later when Wynne slotted a penalty.                          

The visitors were never out of it however and continued to press close to the Bay line only to be kept out by resolute defence with Mark Earl especially prominent.  The Bay failed to go further ahead when Wynne went wide after 30 minutes.

A very hard earned and ultimately deserved victory for the Seahorses which sets them up nicely for a mouth watering cup final on the 17 May (TBC)