10 Dec 2022
RGC 40 Carmarthen Quins 3
Saturday 10th December 2022
As far as wins go, this was a comfortable one with a solid performance against Carmarthen Quins to keep the unbeaten run going to 6 games.
The opening 20 minutes was a kicking battle interspersed with RGC punching holes into a dogged Quins defence.
Conditions lead to a few handling errors, but it was RGC who were asking all the questions attacking-wise.
Sam Rogers hit a couple of penalties sandwiched in between a Jac Wilson kick for the away side.
Quins did get near the line, but Dan Owens impressive season continued as he worked his magic at the breakdown to win the penalty and ease the pressure.
The Gogs were rewarded with a try after they moved the ball before Delwyn Jones collected a kick on the bounce to dive over for the score.
Sam Earl-Jones was making some good yards and breaking down the field and the discipline of the Quins resulted in a couple of penalties.
RGC’s pack was looking solid, with Christian Hone impressing against the visitors in the scrum, time and time again.
Delwyn Jones was also showing good value at centre, with some decent offloads and a few kicks to turn the Quins defence behind.
Sam Rogers extended his sides lead with one of those penalties and at the break the scoreboard ticked over again when Efan Jones dipped his shoulder and sent the Quins defence the other way to sprint in for the try. Rogers made it a well deserved 21-3 lead at the break.
The 2nd half opened with an RGC try from Dan Owen, with another successful Rogers nudge which just about ended any Quins chance of a comeback.
That was certainly the case when a crossfield kick was collected by winger Harri Evans in the air before landing with the ball and the try.
It became a bit of a stop/start game with the cards being dished out – Billy McQueeney was given a yellow and soon after the niggles continued with Sion Jones red carded for Quins and RGC’s Cam Davies shown a yellow. It didn’t help the flow of the game, with a number of stoppages. The Quins players seemed to be showing more fight off the ball they were with the ball in hand as the game went on.
Credit to RGC as they were intent on keeping Quins out when they did get close to the line, with Rhodri King stopping the maul on the line. The fact the try-line wasn’t punctured, and Quins were unable to stretch the RGC defence was as impressive as the tries scored.
Not only did the hooker King stop a score he finished the game with an RGC try after a driving maul, which is becoming another attacking plus as when it gets going it doesn’t stop. Sam Rogers hit the extras to make it 6 wins on the bounce for the Gogs.
RGC Head Coach Ceri Jones praised his side, as the Gogs made it 6 wins in a row. “It was a pragmatic display from us. We showed respect to Quins early on but took the points when we had the chance.
I think that try at the start of the 2nd half changed the game for us, and we took control. Defensively the effort was there and we didn’t want to concede and then we were clinical in attack to get the BP.
Perhaps I am being overly picky as a coach even with the 40-3 win, but discipline could be better and I think we can be even more clinical when we create opportunities.
We have some good momentum, and the squad is in a good place heading into 2 tough games versus Ponty and Merthyr. We will have a few difficult selection choices as we gave a few players a start today who impressed – Christian Hone, Matt Buchanan and Jordan Jones”
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