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RHYL RUGBY CLUB SECOND TEAM WEBSITE

Welcome to the website of the Second team of Rhyl Rugby Club. Lower down there are up to date reports on their games, as well as news and views. This is the website for Rhyl Seconds, I hope you enjoy it!
Jonathan Jones - Editor

Reports - Click on a date to find report

September/October 2000
2 September - Afon Dee 12 pts, Rhyl Seconds 21 pts.
9 September - Rhyl Seconds 7 pts, Abergele 24 pts.
16 September - No game, due to fuel shortage - bloody farmers/hauliers!
23 September - Mold 16 pts, Rhyl Seconds 8 pts.
30 September - Rhyl Seconds 32 pts, Rhyl Thirds 12 pts.
07 October Anselmians 15 pts, Rhyl Seconds 3 pts.
14 October Parkonians 8 pts, Rhyl Seconds 35 pts.
21 October - Wallasey 12 pts, Rhyl Seconds 0 pts.
28 October - Wrexham 22 pts, Rhyl Seconds 5 pts.
November/December 2000
04 November Moore H - game cancelled
11 November West Park 24, Rhyl 0
18 November Ruthin 37, Rhyl 10
25 November Rhyl 29, Halton 17
2 December Rhyl 0, Flint 14
9 December Moore 0, Rhyl 31
16 December Rhyl 5, Benllech 6
23 December Castell Alun and 30 December Clwb Afon-Dee both H - games cancelled
January/February 2001
6 January Abergele 8, Rhyl 7
13 January Rhyl 19, Mold 14
20 January - no game
27 January Rhyl 41, Crewe and Nantwich 7
3 February - (Wales v England)
10 February Rhyl 8, Wrexham 6
17 February - (Scotland v Wales)
24 February - Llandudno A lost
March/April
10 March Rhyl 22, Anselmians 31
24 March - Ruthin H won
7 April Flint 10, Rhyl 7

Flint 10, Rhyl 7

Confusion reigned last weekend as Flint first cancelled then rearranged the fixture. With the North East Wales League scrapped due to the Foot and Mouth Crisis, Rhyl sent down a makeshift team to fulfil the fixture. However news travels slowly in Flintshire, and the Dragons faced up to a full strength first team who genuinely believed that the league was still there to be won.
Added to this were some appalling weather conditions, with a howling gale and bucketfuls of rain. However it was the visitors who shone with a tremendous performance which showed up the limited range of the Flint game and Rhyl could so easily have won a pulsating match.
Rhyl skipper Steve Baxendell had no choice but to play with the wind at his back in the first period and Flint started in traditional manner, taking the ball on into the tackler. But they were denied decent set piece possession, with Geezer Davies, Baxendell and Budso Jones putting their opponents under pressure in the scrum. In the lineouts, the wind dictated short throws but again Greg Gibbs and Dylan Jones made their mark early on, securing ball well.
Flint ran out of steam as early as the 20th minute, due in part to some ferocious tackling from the back row, but particularly from stand off Steve Hargraves, who drove the home side back in the tackle on several occasions to turn over possession. With the scrums looking solid, scrum half Keith Jones was able to use the wind to kick for position, pinning Flint back in their own half.
A Rhyl score looked ever more likely, with Andy Bennett and Delfryn Davies continually breaking through in midfield and when it came it was a classic. Hargraves retrieved a loose kick ahead and then waltzed through most of the Flint side before setting up the ball. Jones fed the backs and excellent thinking from Bennett, who thre out a long pass, gave Will Morecambe on the wing the space he needed to beat his man on the outside for a try.
Bennett's excellent conversion put Rhyl 7-0 up and they could so easily have doubled that score when Davies ghosted through midfield but was caught on the try line and was denied a try.
In the second half, Flint continued to make heavy weather of it, not using the conditions to the same advantage as Rhyl had done previously. With Rhyl's tackle rate sky high the Flint pack dropped their heads and the backs made more and handling mistakes, allowing Rhyl to snap up loose ball and turn defence into attack. Number eight Nick Olte was outstanding, aided and abetted by Colin Hall who revelled in the conditions, acting as linkman between backs and forwards.
Youngsters Jed Butters, Mark Sleeman and Dave Owen all had the chance to run with the ball as Rhyl increasingly took the game to the home side. Almost against the run of play, Flint spent some time in the Rhyl 22 and scored a try which looked doubtful at best, followed by a penalty goal to go into the lead.
Then as Rhyl tore upfield looking dangerous, the home side responded with some cynical defence, which went unspotted by the referee. This was lucky for the home side, for had their actions been noted, a red card or two would have been issued, not least for two incidents. First a vicious high and late tackle which upended Keith Jones as he kicked for the corner, then secondly when lock Greg Gibbs had his legs taken away at the lineout and landed awkwardly but fortunately uninjured.
Late replacements Dave Lloyd and Pete Farnsworth both had chances to run with the ball, with Budso Jones and Steve Hargraves, who were jointly awarded 'man of the match' also in fine form until the end, despite the strength sapping conditions. As the final whistle blew, it was Rhyl who could take more satisfaction from their performance as Flint celebrated their "league" victory.
Apart from the North Wales Cup, which continues to run, it is looking more and more likely that Rhyl's rugby season is over. Most of the remaining games have been cancelled and players and supporters should check with club officials to find out about any remaning fixtures.

Rhyl Seconds 22, Anselmians 31

Rhyl blew hot and cold as Anselmians grabbed victory in an entertaining game at the Waen last Saturday. With Tony Evans unavailable, Phil Blakoe took on the captaincy. His side opened strongly with rolling mauls and driving rucks taking play on. Keith Jones at scrum half kept the momentum going with intelligent kicks to the corner as well as releasing the ball to Richie Davies at stand off. After a sustained burst of pressure, with forceful runs from both Martin Lovett and Jurie Booysen in the centre, the ball popped out to hooker Theo Leroux. His well-timed miss pass to Pete Williams on the flank gave the speedy winger just enough space to squeeze in over the try line.
Anselmians pack looked more dangerous in the loose, with excellent support from each other and they brought play into the Rhyl half. A penalty goal attempt was fielded away safely by Budso Jones before missed first time tackles in defence let the visitors in for two simple tries. At 14-5 down Rhyl knuckled down to it and just before half time they got their reward with a try from Martin Lovett. The ball had come back from a lineout, where Greg Gibbs and Craig Thomas were excelling. Richie Davies used Seth Pierce on a short run. The flanker took the ball over the gain line and when it was recycled, Lovett hit the defence full on just inside the 22 and his momentum took him through several tackles to force his way over for an excellent try. Jurie Booysen's conversion took the score to 14-12 at half time.
An early second half penalty goal by Booysen put Rhyl in front and the Dragons were looking good value for their lead. Pete Williams and Will Morecambe were both tested by high kicks but dealt with them with ease, making a lot of ground with their runs before again a misunderstanding in defence let the visitors in for a try. Worse was to come from the restart when Anselmians kicked back into the Rhyl 22. The clearance kick was returned by the left wing who had a lot of time and space to hack his way to the try line. At 26-15 down Rhyl had to resort to catch up rugby although Bryn Jones was denied a certain try when he broke from a scrum and drove himself into the clear, only to be brought back for apparently being accidentally offside. Last ditch tackling from Booysen and Aled Roberts prevented scores wide out on the few occasions that the visitors got the ball wide.
With Blakoe and Steve Baxendale forceful in the scrums, Theo Leroux was winning his ball as well as disrupting the opposition put in and it was against the run of play when Anselmians scored again to kill the game at 31-15. It was a small consolation to the Dragons in the closing seconds when Keith Jones took a tap penalty kick and fed the rampaging Lovett under the posts. With only ten metres between him and the try line there was never any doubt that the pocket battleship would cross the line. Booysen's conversion made it 31-22 as the referee blew for no side.
This week Rhyl will be without a game as the France – Wales game is still scheduled to be played and then the Dragons face a big test the following week with a home league match against Ruthin.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Theo Leroux, Steve Baxendale; Craig Thomas, Greg Gibbs; Seth Pierce, Bryn Jones, Gareth Jones; Keith Jones, Richie Davies; Will Morecambe, Martin Lovett, Jurie Booysen, Pete Williams; Aled Roberts.

Rhyl Seconds 8, Wrexham 6

Unbeaten North East Wales League leaders Wrexham lost their record at the Waen on Saturday as Tony Evans' heroes played to their potential and claimed a major scalp as well as two welcome league points. Despite the wind and rain both sides ran the ball when possible which made for a most entertaining game, aided by some excellent refereeing.
With Rhyl's lineup beginning to have a settled look to it, the players are now starting to gel together and never has it been so noticeable as in this game. Wrexham's pack, a lot heavier and with a lot of experience in its ranks, looked on paper to have the advantage, but they reckoned without the commitment of the Dragons. Rhyl scrummaged most effectively with Phil Blakoe and Steve Baxendale dictating matters in the front row, which allowed Tony Evans to take a ball against the head at a crucial time in the second half when the visitors were pressing hard for a score. In the lineout Wrexham's tactics disrupted the usual non-stop flow of possession to Greg Gibbs but with the re-emergence of Craig Thomas at second jumper, Rhyl could vary their options and Thomas won a lot of ball for his side. It was in the loose that Rhyl made it count, with Lee Williams recovered from injury and in outstanding form, aided by Seth Pierce and Llion Edwards in the back row. The mighty number eight made several bursts into the visitors' territory and with quick offloading in the tackle, the Dragons were able to keep the momentum going.
Half backs Keith Jones and Richie Davies worked hard to open the game up, giving centre Delfryn Davies just enough space to burst through the midfield defence. With Gaz Pierce in support and Aled Roberts timing his runs well, young wingers Rhodri Roberts and Paul Allen had the chance to run at and around their men on several occasions.
Both sides traded penalty goals with Wrexham shading the first half 6-3. But although their pack could claim to have just been on top, it was at the expense of their energy, for in the second half the Rhyl forwards got on top and looked fitter and keener. Rhyl's winning try came, on the hour, from a Wrexham lineout. Their back row took the ball on but lost possession in the tackle and a surging break from Delfryn Davies took play to the right. Quick recycling out to the left saw prop Baxendale popping up in midfield to create the extra man with a well-timed pass to Rhodri Roberts. The flying youngster showed a clean pair of heels to two would-be tacklers as he skimmed round on the outside to score a well-deserved try. Earlier Rhyl had come close to scoring with Craig Thomas and Blakoe both going close after tight rucking and driving near the Wrexham line.
Wrexham threw everything at Rhyl in the closing stages but with the Dragon's defence solid there was to be no way through, even when the visitors had a penalty awarded five metres from the Rhyl try line. The final whistle brought much joy and Rhyl captain was quick to praise his team's efforts as they recorded a second home win in successive seasons against the odds-on favourites for the league title. "Our defence was sound throughout the game, which made sure that Wrexham were not allowed to cross the try line" he said and added "What's more our young back division are improving with every game and are looking very dangerous with the ball in hand". With Rhyl on fire at the moment, it seems a pity that the international games are breaking up the sequence of matches. Rhyl travel to Llandudno on 24 February and host Anselmians on 10 March before their next league match at home to Ruthin on 24 March.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Steve Baxendale; Craig Thomas, Greg Gibbs; Seth Pierce, Lee Williams, Llion Edwards; Keith Jones, Richie Davies; Rhodri Roberts, Gareth Pierce, Delfryn Davies, Paul Allen; Aled Roberts (replacement Mark Holt).

Rhyl Seconds 41, Crewe and Nantwich 7

Rhyl Seconds kept up their New Year unbeaten run with a seven try demolition of visitors Crewe and Nantwich. Rhyl took the early initiative in the game and were soon on top thanks to a try from stand-off Richie Davies. The Crewe scrumhalf threw out a loose pass which was fumbled by his stand-off and Davies was on the ball in a flash to get the score. A second try came minutes later when Gaz Pierce beat his man on the flank to cross with Ceirion Davies kicking the difficult conversion for a 12-0 lead.
Crewe's pack were working well together but with Lee Williams and Sam Percival in sparkling form they were given short shrift. The Dragons then knocked the stuffing out of the visitors with a third try just before half time. Crewe passed a ball out wide but again a loose final pass gave Gaz Pierce the chance to collect the ball and then outsprint the cover as he ran the length of the pitch to score.
In the second half Rhyl continued to probe at Crewe's weaknesses. Greg Gibbs secured good lineout ball and scrum half Rhodri Roberts varied his options to keep the Crewe back row guessing. Richie Davies worked well to set up second phase ball when necessary and Steve Baxendale and Seth Pierce stood out from the loose play on many occasions to take the ball on and keep the momentum going.
Further tries came from Gary Lloyd, who used his pace to beat his man on the outside for a fine score then centre Delfryn Davies worked a little bit of magic to ghost through midfield on his way to the try line. Some tight driving from the forwards gave Richie Davies the ball from three yards out with the pocket dynamo crashing through to score.
Rhyl's seventh try which sealed the game came after Aled Roberts and Martin Lovett had created the space in midfield. Crewe snatched a late consolation try and then finally Phil Blakoe was unlucky not to add a further score when a he put in a delicate little kick ahead but just failed to ground the ball over the try line.
Captain Tony Evans was well pleased with his side's performance, which sets things up nicely for their league match, at home to Wrexham, in two weeks time. This Saturday though sees Wales play England and so there is no scheduled second team game. However the club are hoping to organise a game for a mixed seconds/thirds team.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Martin Lovett; Steve Baxendale, Greg Gibbs; Seth Pierce, Lee Williams, Sam Percival; Rhodri Roberts, Richie Davies; Gareth Pierce, Delfryn Davies, Ceirion Davies, Gary Lloyd; Aled Roberts.

13 January Rhyl 19, Mold 14

Rhyl Seconds left it late to claim victory in a very intense North East Wales League match. Against the run of play Mold had come from 7-0 behind to lead 14-7 with 20 minutes remaining. Then the visitors full back suffered a suspected broken leg which caused a long stoppage. Eventually play was transferred to another pitch and with tempers rising, Rhyl scored the try of the season to pull level and then in the dying minutes clinched the win with a third score.
Rhyl started strongly in the game and were soon on top thanks to a try from number eight Lee Williams. Ceirion Davies took on his man and beat him with Craig Thomas up in support to keep the attack going. It looked like the second row would score but he was stopped just short, however Williams was on hand to take the pass and drive over. Stand off Gaz Pierce converted for a 7-0 lead.
Mold kept in the game by turning over the ball at the breakdown, not always legally though. They were also allowed to creep offside which meant that Rhyl were not getting the clean possession their backs needed to make the most of their pace. Wing Mark Sleeman showed his pace when bringing the ball back inside and Nick Olte took the ball on to set up an attacking position. But with Mold again allowed to steal the ball they kicked down the blindside and a defensive mix-up allowed the wing to hack on and collect for a try which brought the scores level.
Rhyl had the edge in the scrum in the first half and Greg Gibbs was his usual reliable self at the line out, with Craig Thomas also making a useful contribution at the front position. With Seth Pierce and Lee Williams standing out in the backs Gaz Pierce had several options each time he received the ball and Rhyl came close on many occasions to scoring. Hooker Tony Evans had probably the best chance of the half when he took a slip pass from Steve Baxendale and crossed the line but failed to ground the ball to the referee's satisfaction.
At half time Mold made several changes which effectively strengthened their pack and in the second quarter it was a much more evenly contested affair. Sloppy defending gave Mold a second try but the visitors were being repeatedly penalised for offside and not allowing Rhyl to use the advantage. When scrum half Keith Jones was once again impeded unfairly at a quick penalty the referee finally brandished the yellow card to one of the Mold players. Rhyl soon looked to have taken advantage when Will Morecambe won a race to the ball to touch down but the ball was deemed to be over the dead ball line.
Then came the long stoppage whilst the Mold full back received treatment before Rhyl unleashed their backs to tremendous effect. With ten minutes to go Morecambe combined with Richie Davies before coming back into midfield from the left wing. The ball was won back quickly and Gaz Pierce gave Ceirion Davies the space to run into and take play up field. Mark Sleeman was outside to take a perfectly timed pass and the speedy wing raced away to score under the posts.
Davies converted to bring the scores level and set up a storming finish. This was capped when number eight Lee Williams took the ball on from the back of a scrum and then again from a ruck to drive over wide out for his second try. The conversion attempt from Davies was only narrowly wide but it didn't matter for Rhyl were finally ahead.
Mold came back into the Rhyl half but this time the Dragons were switched on and disposed of the danger with ease to claim their first league victory since September.
This Saturday Rhyl are looking for a pool game.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans (replacement Andy Carroll), Steve Baxendale; Craig Thomas (replacement Mike Hayes), Greg Gibbs; Seth Pierce, Lee Williams, Nick Olte (replacement Sam Percival); Keith Jones, Gareth Pierce; Will Morecambe, Delfryn Davies (replacement Rhodri Roberts), Ceirion Davies, Mark Sleeman; Richie Davies

6 January Abergele 8, Rhyl 7

For the second consecutive game Rhyl failed to gain victory by a single point as close rivals Abergele hung on for victory in an evenly contested and most competitive game.
Once again captain Tony Evans was forced to make several changes to his side and this disruption showed in certain aspects of Rhyl's play as Gele looked the more organised side. However what the Dragons lacked in organisation they made up for in the setpieces. The scrummage power of props Phil Blakoe and Martin Lovett had their opponents on the back foot from the first scrum and the home side struggled to use possession that was not as good as the norm.
In the lineouts too, where Rhyl's options were limited, Greg Gibbs caused problems for both the Gele jumpers although the stiff breeze meant that the lineouts were problematical for both hookers. After an initial onslaught from Rhyl, with Andy Underhill taking the ball well under pressure and Martin Lovett and Craig Thomas taking the ball on, Gele came downfield and scored twice in quick succession to gain the initiative. A penalty goal was followed by a try which was disputed by the Dragons.
Gele had opted to tap a second penalty award and illegally formed a flying wedge before crossing the line. However despite Rhyl's appeals the try stood although the missed conversion left the score at 8-0. From that point on Rhyl took over and had the better of the exchanges in the second quarter. Had it not been for efficient defending by the Gele side, Rhyl could have scored once if not twice before half time. Silky runs from centres Delfryn Davies and Mattie Noden created space but with the ball coming back a bit too slowly the home side had time to reorganise.
Gaz Pierce and Keith Jones pinned back Gele with kicks down the blindside as well as trying the odd sniping break to bring play into the home half. Then Steve Baxendale, Seth Pierce and Phil Blakoe all made charging runs in the loose with Nick Olte supporting well and play came within inches of the try line. But the breakthrough didn't come and the sides changed round at 8-0.
The second half saw Rhyl raise their game and keep Gele in their own half for much of the period and the home defence had to work overtime to keep the Dragons from scoring. A lack of a goal kicker meant that Rhyl's penalty goal attempts were not successful and as a result they had to keep the ball alive in search of a score. Noden and Delfryn Davies led the way with wings Ceirion Davies and Rhodri Roberts also looking dangerous.
Hope came with ten minutes remaining. Seth Pierce went on the rampage to set up the next phase with replacement Mike Hayes, playing his first game in four years, taking play on. The ball came back cleanly from the ruck and there was Martin Lovett lurking on the blindside with only one man to beat. A little shimmy and acceleration gave the quicksilver prop a try which Ceirion Davies nonchalantly converted to put Rhyl just one point behind.
There was still time for Rhyl to mount further attacks but Gele holding firm, the final whistle came with the home side expressing relief rather than joy at their win. Tony Evans was not totally disheartened at the end. "A lot of people expected us to lose today by a big scoreline. However we came with a belief in ourselves and this performance gives us heart for the rest of the season." he said.
This Saturday the Seconds are at home in the league to Mold.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Martin Lovett; Steve Baxendale (replacement Mike Hayes), Greg Gibbs; Seth Pierce, Craig Thomas, Nick Olte; Keith Jones, Gareth Pierce; Rhodri Roberts, Delfryn Davies, Mattie Noden, Ceirion Davies; Andy Underhill

16 December Rhyl 5, Benllech 6

Rhyl failed to make the most of their possession as Benllech hung on for a win by the smallest possible margin. The Dragons had ample chances in the first half to have put the game beyond the reach of the visitors, yet turned around 6-0 down. Indeed Benllech had taken the lead on 20 minutes without actually encroaching into the Rhyl half when a monster penalty goal from beyond the half way line sailed over for a 3-0 lead.
It was Rhyl had made the early attacks, with the forwards full of running and the backs almost making the break through the gain line. Several times it was only desperate defence that kept the Dragons out. Ceirion Davies and Craig Doren were both making the most of scrappy possession. Scrum half Keith Jones seemed to have given his side the lead when he picked up a loose ball at the back of a scrum to cross the line. However the referee had spotted an infringement in the set piece and disallowed the score. Then Tony Evans' side suffered a big blow when influential number eight Lee Williams had to leave the field with a leg injury. Despite this Rhyl continued to control the scrums with Andy Carroll showing up well in the tight although the visitors competed well in the lineouts.
Then a driving maul by the forwards saw them cross the line but unable to ground the ball. Out wide, Nick Bradley gave Martin Lovett the space to use his renowned swerve to break the gain line. But with the ball made slippery as soap by the conditions, the attack once more lost momentum. The Dragons had Will Morecambe to thank for not conceding a try when Benllech made the most of a loose bit of play by Rhyl in midfield to tear up-field and close to Rhyl's try line. Morecambe though won the race to the ball to claim the touchdown. But then Benllech stretched their lead with a second penalty goal to put them 6-0 up at the change around.
In the second half, with Erik Lloyd at stand-off, Rhyl injected more controlled pace into their attacks, but with Benllech defending like demons there was little chance to score. Martin Lovett came onto the ball at a sharp angle to tear upfield and was unlucky not to round off a scintillating break with a try when he was hauled down five metres short of the line. Aled Roberts then burst through on the angle with Craig Thomas up in support to take play into the Benllech 22. The move culminated with Greg Gibbs crossing the line but he was then dispossessed of the ball. However he made amends by taking a clean ball at a lineout ten metres out which was then driven on by the pack over the line, with prop Phil Blakoe emerging from the melee with the ball to claim the try. With Lloyd's conversion just wide it left the Dragons a single point down and they worked hard looking for the next score to seal victory.
But Benllech had other ideas and stormed forward to cross the try line and only good positioning by Nick Olte prevented the ball from being grounded. Rhyl came back and continued to press but with passes going astray and mistakes being made a score looked unlikely. Replacements Mark Holt and Gareth Jones both looked lively and were able to make ground. Then Rhyl had one final chance to snatch the game back in the closing seconds when Benllech were penalised for late tackling scrum half Jones. The penalty kick from Lloyd, wide out on the left was a brave attempt, but just wide to let the visitors hang on for victory.
This Saturday the Dragons are back in league action, at home to Afon Dee.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Andy Carroll; Craig Thomas, Greg Gibbs; Nick Olte, Lee Williams (replacement Gareth Jones), Seth Pierce; Keith Jones, Nick Bradley; Will Morecambe, Martin Lovett, Ceirion Davies (replacement Erik Lloyd), Craig Doren (replacement Mark Holt); Aled Roberts.

9 December Moore 0, Rhyl 31

With Pwllheli making their annual excuse for not travelling to the Waen, Tony Evans' Dragons fixed up a game at Warrington junior side Moore. In a fast, even-paced game, Rhyl eventually won at a canter, scoring five tries without reply. The home side played their part in an open game playing the ball wide before tiring towards the end.
Rhyl started strongly, using the power of their pack to keep the ball tight and drive upfield. Mark Shiels, Lee Williams and Steve Baxendale all made mighty surges deep into the home 22. As the game progressed scrum half Keith Jones and standoff Gaz Pierce were able to continually vary their options. Both players made useful sniping runs as well as distributing the ball well.
In the centre Delfryn Davies scored a lovely try and generally made a big impression despite at times being bogged down by the muddy conditions. When he was injured, the attack was taken up by the twin powerhouses Martin Lovett and Gwyn Davies. Wings Tony Evans and Craig Doren followed up well to close down their opponents in addition to having the odd run at the Moore defence. Full back Ceirion Davies set up a further try with a carving run from deep in his own half that saw him scythe through several of the home side before Lee Williams finished off the move by crashing over. Gaz Pierce converted the kick for a 12-0 lead.
Lovett and Davies were putting in some big hits in midfield with Budso Jones and Mark Shiels ever present to live off the loose ball and set up the attack. Phil Blakoe was unfortunate not to claim a try when he was bulldozed over the line by the pack and grounded the ball. However the referee was unsighted and declined to give the score, to keep the half time score at 12-0.
In the second half Rhyl left it late to seal the game, although they were never troubled in defence. Twin centres Lovett and Davies were enjoying the space created for them by Gaz Pierce and several times took the ball at pace across the gain line. Lee Williams was everywhere with the ball and caused mayhem in the Moore defence with his strong runs, as did Mark Shiels with his off the ball running. Pete Williams, on for the injured scrum half Jones, put in some typical mazy runs that took him through several attempted tackles on his way to scoring two tries. Davies rounded things off with a try that he also converted to bring the thirty points up before having to leave the field for attention to a bruised foot.
Craig Thomas was also an effective ball carrier as well as shining at the lineout, where he was able to take some of the pressure off Greg Gibbs. Gibbs again showed his fighting spirit throughout the game and Andy Carroll rolled back the years as he displayed a tremendous workrate, chasing and tidying up any loose ball.
This Saturday the Seconds are at home to Llandudno
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Andy Carroll, Steve Baxendale; Craig Thomas, Greg Gibbs; Gareth Jones, Lee Williams, Mark Shiels; Keith Jones (replacement Pete Williams), Gareth Pierce; Tony Evans, Martin Lovett, Delfryn Davies (replacement Gwyn Davies), Craig Doren; Ceirion Davies

2 December Rhyl 0, Flint 14

25 November - Rhyl Seconds 29 pts, Halton 17 pts.

This was a welcome victory for the Seconds who had to reschedule their opponents when Parkonians cried off, and then their venue, moving to the High School pitch when the Waen fields were declared unplayable. Five tries, all superbly crafted and forcefully executed, kept Tony Evans' team in control throughout the game.
With the first team game cancelled, there were run-outs for Richie Nelson and Geezer Davies in an otherwise unchanged side. The size of the pitch never allowed either side to play an expansive game and it was Rhyl who claimed first blood when stand off Richie Davies seized on a loose ball and surged through three would-be defenders to score a try which he also converted.
Halton came back to kick a penalty goal but after 25 minutes Rhyl broke loose again with Nelson taking the ball on the charge before feeding Geezer Davies, who in turn committed the defence whilst giving the pass out to Andy Underhill on the right flank. The hulking winger hurled himself over the line just inside of touch for a well-worked try.
Rhyl's play was characterised throughout by the forwards playing a roaming supportive game, which meant that possession was carried over from phase to phase and the Halton defence had to be on their toes to keep out the Dragons. They were allowed to creep offside without penalty on occasion, which gave halfbacks Keith Jones and Richie Davies little time to be constructive with the ball. Brothers Seth and Gareth Pierce mad the most of their limited possession at centre, with Will Morecambe and Warren Eccleston restricted to a supporting role for much of the game.
Number eight Lee Williams again impressed with his foraging, and was rewarded for his efforts shortly before half time with a try. Halton seized on a loose ball to score their first try which made the half time score 17-10.
In the second half Rhyl's pack continued with their display of power and speed. With the guile of prop Phil Blakoe simply too much for his opponent, the referee effectively made the scrummage uncontested, which did negate some of the Dragons' firepower. However with Greg Gibbs again getting some tidy ball at the lineout, the trio of Budso Jones, Steve Baxendale and Blakoe were able to stand off from the ruck and maul and take the midfield on time and time again. With Tony Evans cleaning up to give out good ball, Halton were always playing on the back foot. Their speedy backs were able to break out on the odd occasion though, scoring two tries in the process to give the visitors some hope. A further try was prevented by half-time replacement Craig Doren fielding a loose ball and finding the safety of touch with his kick.
But Richie Nelson was making the most of his ball skills on several occasions, committing the tackler whilst also offloading the ball. He was able to make a lot of ground and in doing so scored two straightforward tries. First he peeled off a maul with the ball and then secondly when, from a penalty award, he went through the Halton pack unscathed to cross for a try which Richie Davies converted to make the game safe.
This Saturday the Seconds return to league action away at Flint.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Steve Baxendale; Richie Nelson, Greg Gibbs; Gareth Jones, Lee Williams, Gareth Davies; Keith Jones, Richie Davies; Will Morecambe, Seth Pierce, Gareth Pierce, Warren Eccleston (replacement Craig Doren 40 mins); Andy Underhill

18 November - Ruthin 37 pts, Rhyl Seconds 10 pts.

Rhyl Seconds succumbed to early scores as the home side raced into a 16-0 lead. After the opening spell the game was more evenly balanced but it was 'catch-up' rugby and Ruthin had the experience to maintain their advantage until the end.
Captain Tony Evans again had to reform his side with several key players called up to the firsts and the Dragons suffered further catastrophe when hooker Gaz Eyres had to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder early in the first half. However this changeround seemed to spur the Rhyl pack to greater efforts as Greg Gibbs held sway in the lineout, seizing a lot of possession from the Ruthin jumper to keep his side in the game.
At the scrums too, props Phil Blakoe and Steve Baxendale provided a solid foundation for stand in hooker Andy Carroll to give his opposite a lot to think about. Whereas Ruthin's strength lay out wide in the backs, Rhyl played to their forwards, keeping the ball tight and controlling possession. Number eight Lee Williams had an outstanding game, popping up all over the place in attack and defence and many times he provided the impetus for Rhyl's next attack. Not far behind were Pete Farnsworth and Craig Thomas, who put in a lot of unseen effort around the park.
It was an action packed eighty minutes for the backs as well, with centres Andy Underhill and Seth Pierce having to contend with much heavier opponents. The back three of Craig Doren, Will Morecambe and Warren Eccleston also had their work cut out, with Eccleston putting in some lovely relieving kicks down the blindside, but despite their high workrate in the tackle, Ruthin often had the extra numbers to create the overlap.
Nick Bradley, out of position at stand off kicked astutely to keep Ruthin on the back foot and scrumhalf Keith Jones varied his distribution to keep the home side guessing. Rhyl went into half time 23-5 down, with a try from Keith Jones, scored when the wily veteran spotted a gap from a tap penalty, being their only score. In the second half, Rhyl had the better of the territorial advantage and they were unfortunate not to score at least two further tries before Steve Baxendale used all of his stealth and size to barrel over from long range.
As Rhyl tired in the last ten minutes Ruthin sealed victory with two further tries but the final scoreline did not reflect the major part of the game and again captain Tony Evans was delighted with his team's efforts if not the final result.
This Saturday the Seconds are scheduled to be at home to Wirral side Parkonians, kick of 2.30 p.m.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Gaz Eyres (replacement Tony Evans 20 min), Steve Baxendale; Craig Thomas, Greg Gibbs; Pete Farnsworth, Lee Williams, Andy Carroll; Keith Jones, Nick Bradley; Craig Doren, Seth Pierce, Andy Underhill, Warren Eccleston; Will Morecambe.

11 November - West Park 24 pts, Rhyl Seconds 0 pts.

Rhyl Seconds continued their grand tour of the northwest with a visit to St. Helens junior side West Park. On a pitch more suited to donkey rides than rugby, the Seasiders failed to establish a pattern to their game and the home side were able to run in their tries for a straightforward victory. Rhyl had their moments but were unable to sustain the pressure and also found difficulty in adapting to the referee's interpretations. They made a bright start, with half backs Keith Jones and debutante stand-off Richie Newman probing the gaps. From the base of the scrum Lee Williams took the ball on and drove forward with Sam Percival in close support and went close. Gaz Eyres and Tony Evans both had chances to run at the home side as Rhyl played their best rugby in the first quarter.
West Park repeatedly infringed offside in the loose but went unpenalised which made Rhyl's task all the more harder. Seth Pierce was not getting the room he needed to set up his charging runs and the Dragons were forced to play off the back foot. Andy Underhill put some big tackles in on his opponent although wings Warren Eccleston and Craig Doren and full back Will Morecambe had little to do apart from field kicks over the top and shadow their men.
Sloppy defence gave West Park two first half tries for a 12-0 lead but in the second half they were contained for the third quarter before cutting loose towards the end for further scores. Greg Gibbs and Craig Thomas were able to cause some disruption in the lineout as well as claiming their own ball and the dogged determination of Andy Carroll and veteran Steve Baxendale was an inspiration to all.
This Saturday Rhyl return to league action with a trip to Ruthin.
Line-up: Gaz Eyres, Tony Evans, Steve Baxendale; Craig Thomas, Greg Gibbs; Sam Percival, Lee Williams, Andy Carroll; Keith Jones, Richie Newman; Craig Doren, Seth Pierce, Andy Underhill, Warren Eccleston; Will Morecambe.

28 October - Wrexham 22 pts, Rhyl Seconds 5 pts.

The North East Wales league pace-setters were made to work hard for their fifth consecutive victory as Rhyl put in another committed performance. The home side ran in two early tries with some powerful work from a very large pack added to slick handling in the backs, but then the Dragons tightened up things and had the equal share of possession and territory. They suffered an early blow when prop Martin Lovett suffered a neck injury at a lineout and with Budso Jones moving to the front row, replacement Colin Hall came into the back row.
Within minutes he had made his mark on the game by latching onto a loose pass from the Wrexham scrumhalf. A deft kick ahead took the ball close to the Wrexham try line and scrum half Keith Jones reacted faster than the defence to scoop up the ball and dive over the line. With the score at 10-5 it was game on again, although a momentary lapse in defence gave the hosts their third try which was converted for a 17-5 half-time lead.
The wind made the lineouts a lottery but Greg Gibbs, jumping at the front still managed to win some lovely ball but it was in the scrum, where man for man Wrexham held a huge weight advantage, that the Dragons excelled. With Phil Blakoe and stand-in Gareth Jones solid, the pack were able to hold their own and Sam Percival did a sterling job at number eight to ensure that the ball won back by hooker Tony Evans was shipped out with minimum disruption.
In the second half, as the wind eased and the rain abated both sides had the chance to run the ball which made for an open game. Rhyl's tackling and general defence was now on top form and several times Budso Jones and Andy Underhill combined intelligently to turn over possession in the tackle. With Lee Williams and Colin Hall popping up in open play Wrexham were not given time to dwell on the ball and Gaz Pierce had several opportunities to dictate play and take Rhyl up the park.
At full back Nick Bradley dealt with a couple of high bombs with aplomb and was able to set up the counterattack for his wings Warren Eccleston and Craig Doren, with the youngster particularly dangerous in space. Wrexham grabbed a late try to seal victory but knew they had been in a game and informed post-match opinion in the clubhouse rated Rhyl as their most difficult league opponents so far.
This Saturday the Seconds are at home to Warrington junior side Moore, kick off at 2.30 p.m.
Line-up: Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Martin Lovett (Colin Hall 20 mins); Lee Williams, Greg Gibbs; Sam Percival, Gareth Jones, Seth Pierce; Keith Jones (try), Gaz Pierce; Craig Doren, Will Morecambe, Andy Underhill, Warren Eccleston; Nick Bradley.

14 October Parkonians 8 pts, Rhyl Seconds 35 pts.

Rhyl Seconds improved yet again on their performance to demolish Parkonians by six tries to one. Despite very wet and muddy conditions, the Dragons took the game by the scruff of the neck early on. With forwards rampant and backs sparkling, the tries flowed and the home side had to rely on the referee for help in the closing stages when the half-century looked possible.
There were several changes to the line-up with Martin Lovett and Gaz Eyres at prop and Andy Simmonds at number eight. In the back division the experienced Gareth G Jones came into the centre. Tony Evans' side dictated play from the start and the forwards in particular looked dangerous with the ball in hand. The setpieces were to Rhyl's favour with not only Greg Gibbs displaying his customary agility to take the lineout ball but also Lee Williams cleaning out his opponent at every opportunity. The scrum again looked settled which gave number eight Simmonds several chances to pick up and drive forward, with Bryn Jones and Gareth B Jones in close support.
A strong ruck caught Parkonians offside and Aled Roberts slotted over the penalty for a 3-0 lead. Then good handling in the backs gave Pete Williams a half chance which he took nonchalantly with a neat chip and gather to score in the corner. Not to be outdone Warren Eccleston made the most of good work by Gareth Jones to slide in at the opposite corner. Parkonians briefly rallied with a penalty goal but Rhyl finished the half stronger with full back Craig Doren coming into the line at pace to take play upfield. Then the Dragons were unlucky not to go further ahead when the two Gareth Jones combined in a counterattack with Ghost setting up younger brother Budso for a mighty charge.
In the second half the rain came down but Rhyl's handling was consistency personified as half backs Paul Roose and Keith Jones orchestrated play beautifully behind what was fast becoming an awesome pack. Parkonians again made a brief resurgence but their spell in the Rhyl 22 ended with terrific downfield charges from Lee Williams, Budso Jones, Bryn Jones and Andy Simmonds. Seth Pierce in the centre also had similar success as he battered his way through the fringes. Gaz Eyres linked well with scrum half Roose to force a penalty award ten metres out, from which Martin Lovett magically skimmed through the home defence like a knife through butter for a try. A difficult conversion was kicked by Aled Roberts who then caused hesitation in the home defence to give Ghost Jones time to scythe through the midfield defence for Rhyl's fifth before another strong run from Simmonds was finished by Budso Jones with a further try.
Parkonians scored a late consolation try but it was to no avail as Rhyl claimed a victory which impressed captain Tony Evans no end. "We've had a mixed start to the season, but our last two performances have been solid and exciting and this week's game at Wallasey will be the next step before we return to league action at Wrexham the following week." He said.
Line-up: Gaz Eyres, Tony Evans, Martin Lovett (try); Lee Williams, Greg Gibbs; Bryn Jones, Andy Simmonds (try), Gareth Jones (try); Paul Roose, Keith Jones; Pete Williams (try), Aled Roberts (penalty, conversion), Gareth Jones (try), Warren Eccleston (try); Craig Doren (Seth Pierce 40 mins.)

07 October Anselmians 15 pts, Rhyl Seconds 3 pts.

Although Rhyl came away from their trip to the Wirral without a win, this was much more positive display. Captain Tony Evans was forced to reshuffle his side with Wynn Davies coming in at prop forward along with Bryn Jones and Gareth Jones into the back row. Paul Roose made a rare outing for the Seconds at scrumhalf with Keith Jones moving out to outside half and Mark Prime taking up the centre berth with Pete Williams. At full back there was a Second team debut for Craig Deron.
Anselmians were a physically intimidating side and Rhyl were forced onto the back foot in the initial exchanges. However in the tight the pack were quickly on top of the home side as scrummage war-horses Phil Blakoe and Wynn Davies easily disrupted their opponents to give Rhyl a real advantage. Likewise at the lineout Greg Gibbs was on top form to claim a lot of quality possession thanks to the accuracy of Tony Evans.
Rhyl had a couple of early penalty opportunities for Keith Jones, both of which came close before Anselmians took the lead with a kick in front of the posts. This proved to be the only score of the half as both defences looked solid, this being more creditable to the Dragons, given the weight advantage that the home side had. Mark Prime was an early casualty after making a couple of promising runs when his troublesome ankle injury recurred and he had to leave the field with Nick Bradley taking his place. Paul Roose played an intelligent game at scrumhalf, working the blindside well with a combination of passes and kicks and Will Morecambe was unlucky not to be given a score when he appeared to be first to the ball when it crossed the try line.
Not to be outdone Warren Eccleston on the right wing had the ball on occasion but with the home defence looking solid it was difficult to make ground. Rhyl made the stronger start in the second half and took play into the home 22 on several occasions thanks to strong runs from Lee Williams and Gareth Jones. Roose was pulled up just short of the line before Anselmians strayed offside at a ruck to give Keith Jones a simple penalty kick to put his side level at 3-3.
But disaster struck from the restart when a loose kick upfield was run back at Rhyl and a simple switch move caught the Dragons on the hop with an overlap wide out creating a try. Undaunted Rhyl fought their way back upfield with newcomer Craig Deron looking dangerous with the ball in his hand and Seth Pierce linking well with his backs. Rhyl brought on Pete Marriot with fifteen minutes remaining and then a kick and chase from Morecambe took play into the Anselmians 22 but again the home side were adequate in defence and cleared the danger. With time running out Rhyl tried to run the ball out of defence but a loose ball was hacked on by the Anselmians centre for a try under the posts. The successful conversion gave the home side a victory scoreline of 15-3, which did not really reflect what was a hard-fought and evenly matched game.
This Saturday the Seconds are at home to Bethesda, with a 3.00 p.m. kick-off.
Lineup : Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Wynn Davies; Lee Williams, Greg Gibbs; Seth Pierce, Bryn Jones, Gareth Jones; Paul Roose, Keith Jones (penalty); Will Morecambe, Pete Williams, Mark Prime (Nick Bradley 25 mins), Warren Eccleston; Craig Deron (Pete Marriott 65 mins).

30 September 2000 - Rhyl Seconds 32 pts, Rhyl Thirds 12 pts.

With New Brighton calling off their fixture against the Seconds and Colwyn Bay unable to raise a second team to play the Thirds, Rhyl staged a training game with a twelve man second team eventually running out 32-12 winners against a thirteen man third side.
On a warm sunny day both sides made the most of the advantage played by referee Sean Hassett and it was the Thirds who were on top early on. Powerful runs from Dave Baxendell, Wynn Davies and Bryn Jones set up second phase ball for up and coming scrumhalf Gareth Jones to score a try then Baxendell repeated the process for a further score. With the Seconds having only Seth Pierce in their back row, quality possession in the tight was at a premium but with veteran Aled Roberts always on the prowl, the Seconds claimed enough ball to prevent any further scoring.
Indeed they came back with a try from Phil Blakoe to make the half time score 12-5 to the Thirds. In the second half, despite spirited play from the Thirds, with Andy Underhill, Pete Marriott, Colin Hall and Dylan Jones making runs, the Seconds threw the ball wide and found gaps which were exploited well to run up five more tries from Blakoe, Warren Eccleston, Lee Williams and Mark Prime. Will Morecambe and triallist fullback Mark Jones showed up well, particularly in attack, with their strength in the tackle being a decisive factor in setting up another phase of play.
With the game played in good humour throughout, it was a worthwhile practice game and gave youngsters Gaz Eyres, Tony Evans and Greg Gibbs vital experience.
This Saturday the Seconds travel to the Wirral to take on Anselmians and the Thirds are also on the road going to Rhos for a league match.

23 September 2000 - Mold 16 pts, Rhyl Seconds 8 pts.

Rhyl again failed to take any reward from a full-blooded league match, although Mold's win was in doubt until the final whistle as Rhyl showed a huge increase in commitment and flair. A solitary try, scored by Mark Prime, after an excellent display of passing and support by both backs and forwards, was scant reward for the Dragons' efforts.
A strong looking Mold side had the height and weight advantage in the pack and they used their power to good effect in the early stages with some good rucking and distribution. Defensively though Rhyl looked very sound and with some big hits from Mattie Noden, Seth Pierce, Sean Edwards and Lee Williams, the home side were unable to gain any points reward for their efforts. Indeed it was the Dragons who took the lead on 20 minutes. Stand off Andy Bennett, who was distributing the ball well under pressure, caught the Mold defence offside and Gwyn Davies kicked the opening score.
Mold came back, disrupting Rhyl's scrum but also being allowed to illegally hamper Williams and Dylan Jones in the lineout. As a result the Dragons' possession dried up and when they entered a ruck from the wrong side, the penalty award brought Mold level. Then on the stroke of half time driving play resulted in a try which was converted to give the home side a 10-3 lead.
In the second half, Rhyl's play flowed as players settled down to the task. Mold tried to catch Rhyl out with some kicking to the corners but replacement full back Paul Allen and wing Will Morecambe were more than up to the task, snuffing out any danger. There was also more variety in the Dragons' play as forwards and backs combined to string together several consecutive phases of attacking play. With Pierce, Noden and Phil Blakoe setting up quick second phase ball, the backs had more time and replacement Delfryn Davies made some incisive breaks, backed up Paul Allen and Mark Prime.
Pete Williams made good ground when he got the ball in space and from one such move he took play into the Mold 22 where intelligent interpassing gave Prime the ball to score a try. Mold restored their advantage with a drop goal before Bennett converted a huge penalty kick to make the score 13-8. Rhyl kept on the attack but good defence kept the home side ahead and they sealed victory in the final minutes with a second drop goal. At the death a bit of individual enterprise from Rhodri Roberts took Rhyl into the Mold 22 but it was too late for his side as Mold cleared their lines to claim the win.
Captain Tony Evans saw a lot of positives in the game, with prop Gaz Eyres continuing along his learning curve and the side looking sharper in attack as well as being very well organised in defence. "We need to work on our set-pieces," he said and with the next league match four weeks away, the intervening weeks will give his side chance to experiment.
Lineup : Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Gaz Eyres; Lee Williams, Dylan Jones; Seth Pierce, Sean Edwards, Gwyn Davies (penalty); Keith Jones, Andy Bennett (penalty); Will Morecambe, Mattie Noden, Mark Prime (try), Pete Williams; Aled Roberts. Replacements: Delfryn Davies (Gwyn Davies 40 mins), Paul Allen (Aled Roberts 40 mins), Rhodri Roberts (Keith Jones 70 mins).

9 September 2000 - Rhyl Seconds 7 pts, Abergele 24 pts.

A disappointing performance from Rhyl Seconds let Abergele in for the spoils in this early season derby match. Gele looked stronger and fitter throughout but to the credit of the Dragons, their defence was solid for the entire eighty minutes, with the visitors' three tries coming from mistakes rather than creative play.
Abergele had the advantage of the slope in the first period and early pressure produced three penalty goals as Rhyl desperately defended their try line. Then a loose ball was hacked on for an opportunistic try which wasn't converted to give Gele a 14-0 half-time lead.
In the second half Rhyl came more into the game but with every 50/50 ball seemingly being won by the visitors, the Dragons had to play their rugby on the back foot. As they tired towards the end a missed tackle then a defensive mix-up gifted Gele two further scores for a 24-0 lead. Pete Williams came very close to scoring in the corner before a kick ahead from Keith Jones was seized on by Gaz Eyres. The young prop shrugged off an earlier thigh injury to drive towards the line with stand off Steve Ferbrache on hand to pick up and crash over for a consolation try. Andy Bennett converted to put some respectability into the scoreline.
Captain Tony Evans was disconsolate after the game. "We simply didn't compete on equal terms in the loose" he said "and allowed Gele too much time to be use the ball." However he paid tribute to his side for never giving up and putting in a full eighty minutes of sheer effort. An added bonus was the play of replacement Simon Percival, who replaced Mattie Noden early in the second half, after the flanker had to retire with a broken thumb. Percival looked sharp around the pitch and will be another welcome addition to the squad along with Gaz Eyres and Steve Ferbrache, who are quickly getting to grips with the demands of senior rugby.
This week the Seconds have a week free from league action and are looking for a game.
Lineup : Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Gaz Eyres; Greg Gibbs, Craig Thomas, Seth Pierce, Nick Maxwell, Mattie Noden; Keith Jones, Steve Ferbrache (try); Warren Eccleston, Andy Bennett (conversion), Mark Prime, Pete Williams; Aled Roberts. Replacements: Simon Percival (Noden 2nd half)

2 September 2000 - Afon Dee 12 pts, Rhyl Seconds 21 pts.

Rhyl Seconds made a winning start to the new season when they travelled to Deeside and came away victors by three tries to two. With captain Tony Evans opting for a blend of youth and experience, there were debuts for ex-youth team players Gareth Eyres, Ben Griffiths and Steve Ferbrache.
The heavier Afon Dee pack started strongly but it was Rhyl who looked more inventive behind the forwards with some promising handling movements that failed only because of the home side's defensive organisation. Mattie Noden looked sharp in the centre and with Gwyn Davies up in support he broke the gain line on several occasions. Rhyl took control in the tight with evergreen prop Phil Blakoe enabling new boy Gaz Eyres the chance to settle into the front row as well as enabling Tony Evans to take useful ball against the head. In the lineouts Greg Gibbs and Lee Williams continued last season's good work by edging possession against their bigger opponents.
Seth Pierce and Craig Thomas at wing forward took every chance to run at the home side midfield, looking for any weakness and their work was rewarded on the quarter of an hour when Lee Williams took the ball at pace from the back of a ruck to charge over. Gwyn Davies converted for a 7-0 lead. Afon Dee came back with a try which owed much to slack defence before Rhyl went further ahead. Scrum half Keith Jones took a quick penalty kick and spotted the gap which was exploited by the back division, with man of the match Mark Prime crossing for the score wideout. An excellent conversion from Davies put Rhyl ahead 14-5 and there was more to come when stand off Steve Ferbrache spotted the full back out of position, kicked into the open space. Pressure from Prime saw the ball bobble to Will Morecambe and the speedy winger had only to wrongfoot his man before crossing the try line. Again Davies converted to give Rhyl a 21-5 half-time lead.
In the second half Afon Dee were boosted by several replacements and held their own but Rhyl stayed in control against some determined charges from the home pack. Ben Griffiths was moving round the paddock well and a good cover tackle from the young number eight prevented a certain try. Pete Williams had a quiet game on the wing but came close to scoring after Delfryn Davies, replacement for the injured Prime, had made a mazy run through most of the Afon Dee side.
The home side scored a deserved try towards the end but Rhyl then tightened things up and secured a deserved victory which gives them a fine start to their North East Wales league campaign. This Saturday the Dragons resume their rivalry with Abergele in what promises to be a cracker of a game. Gele will not have forgotten coming to the Waen at the end of last season already crowned as champions, only for Rhyl to claim their scalp by 16 points to 8. Kick off at the Waen is at 3.00 p.m.
Phil Blakoe, Tony Evans, Gaz Eyres; Greg Gibbs, Lee Williams (try); Seth Pierce, Ben Griffiths, Craig Thomas; Keith Jones, Steve Ferbrache; Will Morecambe (try), Mattie Noden, Gwyn Davies (3 con), Pete Williams; Mark Prime (try). Replacements: Warren Eccleston (Prime, blood 1st half), Delfryn Davies (Prime 2nd half)

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