BAY 2NDS MARCH ON

COLWYN BAY 2^ND XV    31            CORWEN 0

Colwyn Bay 2nds push for the Championship in the North East Counties league received further impetus with a fourth league win in a row at Brookfield Drive last Saturday as they notched up a 5 tries (3 converted) to nil win over visitors Corwen.

In glorious sunny conditions with the ground firm under foot the Bay’s side was strengthened with four 1^st teamers who were without a League fixture and who added much needed weight and strength in the tight and penetration out wide.

The Bay’s try machine, wing Steve Davidson opened the scoring in the tenth minute when in trademark style he ran in from the 22 metre mark with a couple of juddering hand offs to score wide out.  Scrum-half Barry Cravetto slotted the difficult conversion.  Davidson added his second late in the half to leave the Bay 12 points to nil up at the break.  It should have been more as the home side dominated possession in the scrum and after the first 15 minutes were in control of the line out as well but poor close handling and lack of support in broken play kept the score down and loose play largely unproductive.

The second half did not see much improvement in this aspect of play although veteran prop John Beagley brought the crowd to life as he imitated the actions of a bull elephant trailing stunned would- be Corwen tacklers in his wake until an ill-advised use of the forearm forced the referee to rule  further progress towards the line illegal.  Man of the match Rhys Williams at full back showed silky skills after taking a tricky high ball to weave his way to the line to score Bay’s third from 50 yards out.  Cravetto again converted.

Two further tries came from inside centre Sean McDonagh both from deep as he muscled his way past the despairing Corwen defence with speed and power.  Replacement scrum-half Haydn Phillips converted one of the tries.           

Good showings also from the Blackwell trio for the Bay:  Father Bob in the second row and sons Tom at fly half and Will at flanker – surely a first for most rugby teams and a very proud moment for Cap’n Bob.

Two more games to go for the Bay to remain unbeaten in this League.  Next game against Wrexham 3rds away on the 7 April:  the future looks promising and if they can get closer control and support in the loose, the Bay lads can look forward to the run-in with some confidence but they will no doubt guard against any early champagne cork popping moments as they are probably not going to be able to field a team as strong as this in their closing games.

Scorers for the Bay: Steve Davidson (2) Sean McDonagh (2) Rhys Williams (1) Conversions:                 Barry Cravetto (2) Haydn Phillips (1)