Dinas Powys boosted their hopes of retaining Division Three status in the Admiral League with a 12-6 win over Fairwater.
The hosts held off a late challenge, when they were down to 14 men, to record their fourth victory of the season, and third win in the last five games.
On a heavy Common pitch, Dinas looked the better side at first, attacking fast and wide at any opportunity. But Fairwater gradually countered the threat, and took a 3-0 lead before the interval, then added a second penalty after the break.
The second half, with Fairwater keeping the ball in the forwards, was a tough test for Dinas, but the defence was up to the challenge, and swift counter-attacks, spreading the ball wide, brought two tries from Finn Davies and Josh Dunleavy, with Caelan Hurley converting one.
Penalties at the breakdown resulted in a yellow card for the closing minutes, and Fairwater threw everything at the home defence, but a powerful tackle by Ellis O’Grady drove the ball carrier back from the line when a score looked certain.
“The last few matches we have been going forward in small steps,” said head coach John Dimond.
“Beating Fairwater, four places above us, has given us a great bit of momentum. With matches against the teams around the drop zone to play we’ve put ourselves in a good position to stay in Division Three.”
Dimond is also encouraged by the number of players turning up at the club. One week earlier, the club’s second team beat St Albans and some 30 players were available for selection.
On Saturday, Dinas visit fourth-placed Llantwit Major for their second Vale derby of their season - when the clubs last met in November, Llanwiit won 30-17.
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