Ruthin 26 COBRA 8

COBRA could not mark their return to the top flight with victory as the Meifod side slipped to an opening day defeat at Ruthin.

The season opener proved a tight affair with defences firmly on top early on.

However the deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when wing Gwion Richards crossed the whitewash

COBRA weathered the storm and just before the break reduced the arrears with a penalty from the boot of fly-half Rhodri Jones.

Ruthin came out of the blocks in the second-half and crossed for two quickfire tries with Cai Edwards and Nathan Jones crossing and the latter adding both conversions.

The match was broken up with several players sent to the bin, including COBRA centre Iwan Vaughan, before Edwards raced over for his second try of the day with Jones converting.

However COBRA had the final say with replacement John Lewis crossing for a last gasp try.

COBRA captain Captain Hywel Jones said: “We always knew that it would be a tough ask to come up here and beat a well established first division team in our first game of the season but I felt we competed well, showed good character and we have plenty of positives to take into the season ahead’

COBRA: H Jones. Isaac, Williams, R Evans, Edwards, Hughes, Roberts, Jukes, D Jones, R Jones, White, Vaughan, Humphreys, Noakes, R Jones. Reps - Robinson, Smith, Launder, Lewis, Davies