SPORTS REVIEW OF 2010 - RUGBY
In January, nine elite Canadian players arrived to beef up the newly formed RGC1404 side, while during the same month Ruthin defeated local rivals Dinbych 14-5 to reach the last-16 of the SWALEC Plate.
In the SWALEC Bowl, a spirited second-half fightback from Bala came up short when they were beaten 13-9 by Monmouth.
In February RGC1404’s U-16 side caused waves thanks to a fantastic 28-7 home win over the Scarlets.
Clive Griffiths’ first game in charge of the North Wales senior side ended in an excellent 20-11 victory over a strong Worcester Warriors A outfit.
RGC1404 also showed some fine form in April to see off Welsh Premiership side Cross Keys 16-13.
Switching codes in March and the first rugby league shirt signed by Crusaders new signing Gareth Thomas was up for auction in Ruthin.
Staying with Ruthin, and the Blues’ hopes of picking up some silverware were ended as they lost out 28-23 on aggregate to Pwllheli in the quarter-finals of the North Wales Cup.
Pwllheli won the second leg 15-8, but Ruthin thought they had won it when scrum-half Rhys Hughes got over the line late on.
But the referee adjudged the ball was held up.
There was better news for Ruthin later on in the month when they trounced derby rivals Dinbych 52-10, after Russ Rowlands’ side had been 10-7 up at one stage.
It proved to be a disappointing campaign for the Caeau Les Phillips side as they suffered relegation from Division One (North), but there was a positive end to the campaign on the back of thrilling 36-33 win over Llandudno.
Jamie Winning crossed for a hat-trick of tries.
Bala’s Division Two (North) campaign ended on a low as they missed promotion.
The men from Maes Gwyniad lost 19-18 to Machynlleth, which opened the door for Bethesda to win the title, while Bala lost 18-10 to Rhyl in the final of the North Wales Plate.
Making it a treble of poor finishes, Ruthin’s last Division One (North) outing of the campaign was a thumping 47-5 reverse at the hands of champions Nant Conwy.
It wasn’t all doom-and-gloom on the local rugby front.
Ruthin U-10s were victorious in the Anglo-Welsh tournament and Ruthin 2nds were able to retain the Clwyd Cup with the 21-6 outcome versus Wrexham 2nds.
THERE was a summer shake-up at Ruthin, with the return of Russ Penrhyn-Jones to the club as director of rugby.
John Tudor agreed to take over as head coach, replacing Jim Lyle - and Ruthin made a winning start to the current campaign, with a 19-13 scoreline at Bro Ffestiniog.
Dinbych began life back in Division Two with a battling 19-17 success at home to Rhyl, but Bala lost their opening game of the season 13-9 to visitors Dolgellau.
Denbigh’s Kriss Wilkes caught the eye when playing for Wales in the Students’ Home Nations tournament in Ireland.
Wilkes was the man of the match in Wales’ 42-0 success against Ireland.
Dinbych’s unbeaten start to the campaign ended in mid-September with an unbelievable loss.
They led Dolgellau 21-0 at half-time, but ended up losing 29-21.
There was better news for Russ Rowlands’ side seven days later, however, as a hat-trick of tries from former Bala Town footballer Osian Jones helped them to a 38-29 success versus Newtown.
On the same day, Ruthin’s unbeaten Division One record fell in dramatic fashion.
The Blues looked to be on course for yet another win when they led Mold 25-10, only for the visitors to come storming back for a 27-25 outcome that preserved Mold’s own undefeated record.
Bala finally broke their duck for the season in late September courtesy of a convincing 34-14 success over previously unbeaten Llanidloes.
There was a further hat-trick for Dinbych to celebrate in October as Wil Jones crossed for a trio of tries in the 34-10 victory over Welshpool.
For the first time ever, Dinbych Vets competed in the annual Jersey Super 10s tournament and after group wins versus Beeches (33-0) and Ivel Barbarians (21-5), they lost out in the quarter-finals to favourites Chippenham (10-5).
Corwen Rugby Club admitted defeat in its attempts to establish the town as a rugby union stronghold.
However, the club expressed an interest in leading a rugby league revolution and committee member Peter Hughes said: “We have put the feelers out for players for rugby league.”
The year has ended on a high for both Bala and Ruthin.
Bala defeated Llangollen to reach the fourth round of the SWALEC Bowl, while Ruthin comfortably saw off Llandudno to book their spot in the last-32 of the SWALEC Plate.