Apr 26 2012 by Alec Doyle, Flintshire Chronicle
MOLD captain Steve Quinton believes his side are starting to find their rhythm – but with one game remaining in the Swalec League Division One North campaign, it has come too late for them to take advantage.
The Chester Road side went down to a 14-12 defeat at Bro Ffestiniog in a tight encounter, but Quinton, forced to watch from the sidelines with a knock, was still happy with the team performance.
“It actually feels like we are finding our rhythm and that something has clicked,” he said.
“Obviously getting a settled and injury-free side out has been key, but allied to this is finding perhaps our best unit combinations.”
Mold head coach Les Byrne was particularly impressed with his new scoring addition Ollie Hughes.
“For a qualifying youth player, Ollie more than held his own today against old hands and heads in the front row,” said the coach.
“He is very talented and very gifted and already proving to be a great asset to the team. He has a great future with us.”
After a hard-fought opening 40 minutes neither side could make the breakthrough, despite some excellent work by Mold winger Jamie Winning. It was the home side who took the lead shortly after the break as a missed tackle in midfield allowed Bro to go over for an converted try.
Mold upped the tempo and after heaping pressure on the Bro line, were able to force their way over when debutant Hughes crossed the whitewash Luke Jones adding the extras.
The visitors took the lead with six minutes remaining, winger Richard Hopkins diving onto the ball in the corner following a well-weighted chip ahead by Jones, although the subsequent conversion sailed wide.
But Bro clinched the victory in the dying embers as another missed tackle proved Mold’s downfall.
Former Mold RUFC player Haydn Pugh has been selected to play for the Barbarians against Loughborough Students.
The match, to open the students’ new stadium at Holywell Park in Leicestershire, will see the Baa-Baas, featuring Carmarthen Quins player Pugh – originally from Flint – coached by Scotland and former England coach Andy Robinson.