WEAKENED BAY FIND IT TOUGH ON THE ISLAND

LLANGOED 21            COLWYN BAY 2NDS 14

The Bay lads enjoyed a free weekend in the North East Counties Premiership campaign with a trip to Anglesey for this friendly game which they lost 3 converted tries to 2.

The delightful Llangoed ground deep in the island countryside complete with a seaward slope and the odd  bucolic surprise on the ground made it an interesting day out for the weakened Bay side who turned out somewhat light in the scrum.

The forward advantage told mightily in the first half with the home side showing their forward dominance going downhill and rumbling over for three converted tries. The Bay’s inexperience up front was unable to contain the greater weight in the loose of the Llangoed forwards.

However the Bay had a secret weapon up their sleeves and were able to welcome back to their ranks Haydn Phillips as a scrum-half substitute at half-time.  With his added control and direction at the base of the scrum and with slope advantage, the Bay lads came back strongly in the second half and in the end given another five minutes or so may very well have forced a win over the increasingly tiring home side.

First to go over for the Bay was veteran No. 8 Llew Williams after a scrum five yards out after 50 minutes.  There was no stopping Williams as he picked up from the base and bulldozed his way over through the attentions of most of the Llangoed pack.  Haydn Phillips converted.

The Bay should have lost their advantage after 55 minutes when wing Steve Davidson was yellow carded for allegedly talking to the referee for the third time.  However accurate throwing at the line out by fledgling lock Alex Wilkinson and good catching, driving and distribution by skipper Ritchie Evans enabled the Bay to maintain the pressure in Davidson’s absence.  Evans and Bobbie Blackwell at lock  were also able to gain a degree of superiority in the loose as better Bay fitness started to pay off.

With Davidson’s return, the Bay were able to widen out their attack with the reward coming in the 65^th minute when Davidson added to his top try scorer’s tally by touching down close to the posts after good hands and overlapping support were shown by centres Dan Eames-Hughes and Dougie Graham  round the blind.            Haydn Phillips again converted.

The Bay Also went close when Dan Eames-Hughes skipped off his left foot and through a couple of home players before being tap-tackled just short of the line by the impressive and speedy Llangoed scrum-half.  Adam Vallor on the wing was also unlucky to have a try disallowed wide out as he was adjudged to have put a foot in touch just short of the line.

A tough game when all the friendliness from the hosts was reserved (quite rightly) for their welcome and the post-match hospitality in the local pub will have left no small amount of battered Bay bodies – a real sign of the continuing spirit and commitment of this increasingly strong Bay side who were after all playing a 1^st team side.  Man of the Match:  Haydn Phillips.

The Bays next game is at home (kick off 2.30 pm – meet at 1.15pm) against Rhos 2nds next Saturday when their premiership challenge resumes.  SAQ’s at Rydal on Monday at 7 pm.  Team training at the Club 7pm Wednesday.

Bay Team:     Ian Jones  Steve Davidson  Adam Vallor  Dougie Graham  Lee Parkes  Dan Eames-Hughes  Tom Blackwell  Chris Dentith  Tristan Hird  Alex Wilkinson  Bobby Blackwell  Ray Ollende (sub Haydn Phillips 40m)  Ritchie Evans  Llew Williams and Nick Noble.

Bay Scorers: