Rugby union – Mold boss expects no favours

Dec 12 2008 by Paul Wheelock, Flintshire Chronicle

Rugby union – Mold boss expects no favours

BALA may have a massive Swalec Cup tie on the horizon but David Hogg says his Mold side can ill afford to treat them lightly in tomorrow’s North Wales League Division One clash at Chester Road (2pm).

The Gwynedd outfit make their way to Principality Premiership giants Swansea a week on Saturday for a fourth-round showdown to savour.

But any suggestion they will have half an eye on their date with The Whites when they face bogey team Mold are quickly refuted by Hogg.

The player-head coach said: “I’m sure their players will be going into our match determined to nail down their positions for the big game against Swansea.

“They’re riding high after a really good cup run and I’m sure they’ll have a spring in their step and determined to claim another scalp, seeing as they have lost to us a number of times in the past.”

The encounter, moved to Mold’s ground as Bala’s is undergoing work, comes after Hogg’s fifth- placed men saw Saturday’s home meeting with rock-bottom Dolgellau abandoned during the second half.

Proceedings were called to a halt after a visiting player was knocked unconscious.

Given the light had worsened by the time the ambulance arrived, the officials felt there was no way the action could be completed in daylight and so sent the teams back to the clubhouse.

It was a decision that Hogg gladly accepted.

He said: “It let us off because we were 10-5 down and playing some of our poorest rugby of the season.

“That was really disappointing as we had played some our best rugby of the season in our last match, the Swalec Plate win over Rhiwbina.

“Dolgellau deserved to be leading and I’m sure they would have been very disappointed because I expect it to be a different story when we play them in the rearranged game.

“Hopefully it’s a big wake-up call, as if we play the same against Bala, we will get turned over.”

Hogg is unavailable tomorrow while Gavin Taylor has been ruled out until the new year because of work commitments.

Mold 2nds’ home match with Menai Bridge was rained off on Saturday, but Flint were in Division Four combat, going down 54-14 at Ruthin 2nds.

Flint host Wrexham 2nds tomorrow while Mold 2nds make their way to Harlech (both 2.30pm).