DENBIGH DENT BAY PROGRESS

 Denbigh 2nds 35     Colwyn Bay 2nds  24

Colwyn Bay resumed their programme in the North East Wales League hoping to secure a top four finish to make sure of a place in the Premiership District League for the second half of the season only to become unstuck against a well organised Denbigh side by five tries (2 converted and 2 penalties) to four (2 converted).  Victory against Shotton at home next Saturday is a must if the Bay second string are to claim their first target of the season.

Playing downwind and downhill in the first half, the Bay were unable to capitalise and went into half-time 12 all.  The Bay opened the scoring after five minutes with a typical battering-ram try from Skipper for the day and Centre Lem Hocknell (converted by full back Haydn Phillips). Denbigh hit back almost immediately from the restart but the Bay regained the lead when fly half Dan Eames-Hughes touched down to round off a good passing move.

Again however Denbigh pegged the Bay back quickly with a converted try of their own with good running and positional kicking from deep to bring the scores level at half time.

The Bay again retrieved the lead early in the second half when wing Lee Parkes went in wide out only to lose it again when the sweet boot of the Denbigh full back slotted two difficult penalties.

The Bay’s commitment held however to enable them to take the lead for the third and last time when Mark ‘Shaft’ Bratt bulldozed his way through for the Bay’s final try. Phillips again converted. In the last seven minutes however Denbigh were able to score two more tries to make the victory more emphatic than it really was.

Good individual performances throughout the Bay team did not add up to a solid team showing. More control and pitch cred is required with better decision making if the Bay’s fast improving side is going to add up to the sum of its parts in next Saturday’s crunch home game.