Rugby union: Cruel blow for Mold in late derby setback

Feb 4 2010 by David Bergin, Flintshire Chronicle

THERE was only one point in it as Mold’s outside title hopes were hit by derby rivals Ruthin in agonising fashion.

Before the match, Mold would have been confident of maintaining their faint title charge, but Ruthin had other ideas.

The hosts opened the scoring through a penalty early on, but Mold were soon 7-3 in front, hooker Liam Gill charging over and Dan Edmunds tagging on the extras.

Ruthin were straight back in it, though, and following an attack being held up on the line, Gary Teeson put the home team 8-7 in front at the interval.

The Flintshire men were quick out of the blocks in the second half and Edmunds converted another penalty before Tom Webb extended Mold’s lead further when he touched down to make it 15-8.

A converted Marc Lloyd try then brought the hosts level and scrum-half Wil Davies put them in front with the boot once more.

The see-saw battle continued when another maximum saw Mold go 20-18 in front, but the never-say-die hosts had the last laugh when Davies converted a last-gasp penalty for victory.

Coach Eddie Kirby said: “It was a typical derby match that never really got started.

“There was handling errors throughout the team and the game never really got going and neither side got into the flow.

“With four minutes to go, we were camped on the five-metre line and had three penalties awarded to us. We thought we were hard done by really, because the second penalty should have been a penalty try but he didn’t give it. It’s just one of those things really.

“It was never going to be a high-scoring game but, to be fair, the Mold forwards played well and scored a good driving maul from the lineout so we’ve just got to keep on training now.

“We played well last week but couldn’t string it together this week, which isn’t good enough.”

Mold’s 2nds returned from Denbigh 2nds with a 20-10 win.

The club now faces a break for the Six Nations, before the firsts return to action at home to Colwyn Bay on February 20.