Saturday 8th December 2007

CAERNARFON 32 Denbigh 12

UNBEATEN Caernarfon stretched their lead at the top of Division Four
North to six points after a comprehensive 31-12 win over Dinbych at Y
Morfa.

Even in this mid-term encounter the Cofis showed the benefit of an
intensive pre-season fitness regime as their forwards were faster to
the loose ball and breakdown area as well as pressurising Dinbych in
the scrums and dominating the lineouts.

In these circumstances it was not surprising that the visitors were on
the backfoot throughout, constantly under pressure and with little
opportunity to bring their potentially dangerous back division into
action.

Playing up the slope but with a gusting wind at their backs, Dinbych
did well in the opening 10 minutes as they camped in the Caernarfon 22
and got close to scoring.

Gradually the home side weathered this storm and lifted the siege,
taking play into the opposition’s own 22.

After 15 minutes the pack drove over from a short-range lineout for
lock Alan Mark to claim the touchdown for an unconverted try wide out.

Caernarfon continued to dominate both in territory and possession and
despite resolute defence by the visitors at numerous rucks and mauls
were able to add to the score after half an hour when Mark again scored
in the corner following a short-range tap penalty.

The hosts increased their lead just before the interval following a
sequence of short-distance scrums, rucks and mauls when number eight
Rhys Evans eventually breached the Dinbych defence for a try,
outside-half Kelvin Morris converting.

There was still time for Dinbych to hit back as they pressurised
Caernarfon into conceding a scrum on the 22 from the kick-off.

Scrum-half Dan Jones passed to Dafydd Cartwright on the blind side for
the left wing to use his speed to go round his man and cross in the
corner. Trystan Rowlands added the conversion points to reduce the
deficit at half time to 17-7.

If this had given Dinbych some hope it was dashed almost immediately
when they made a hash of the restart allowing Caernarfon again to
pressurise them near their line for flanker Dewi Williams to go over
from a lineout drive.

Dinbych continued to struggle to gain any momentum with Cofis master
kicker Morris always having plenty of time to use the wind at his back
to launch long touchfinders to pin the Vale of Clwyd side back in their
own half.

With 15 minutes left Dinbych conceded a penalty five metres out and
Mark finished the driving play by the pack to go over for his hat-trick
try.

The visitors then took the play deep into the Caernarfon 22 and got
some reward for their efforts when Jamie Winning chipped over the home
line for Rowlands to touch down after the ball had eluded several other
players.

Dinbych were still looking to salvage a bonus point but fell further
behind when Caernarfon scored their sixth and only try from long range
after they counter-attacked from halfway following a downfield kick by
the visitors, and after going through many hands right-wing Steffan
Thomas grounded in the corner.