Gogs Grab Win

RGC 33 Aberavon 28
Saturday 28th October 2023

A game that switched scores, had yellow cards and plenty of excitement ended with a good bonus point win for the Gogs.
The score was broken in the 2nd minute after RGC kicked a penalty to touch and fired up the driving maul from the lineout.  Edged on the line, it was Pedr Jones that crashed over.
The Gogs had a good opening spell and backed themselves with that attacking maul on a couple of occasions with the boot of Harri Ford finding some good yards.
Play was in the Aberavon half, and the homeside grabbed a 2nd try when Delwyn Jones took the pass on a great running line to step and ghost in.  Sam Earl-Jones conversion.
It wasn’t just in attack that RGC were dominating, as the scrum put in massive shove to win a penalty.  Matters were made worse for the visitors when Joe Tomalin-Reeves was yellow carded.
From the next play the pack rumbled on and-on-and Ethan Fackrell came up with the ball and the try. Sam Earl-Jones on target with the extras
Aberavon finally got into an attacking position after 25 minutes, but the kick ahead didn’t bounce into the hands of winger Morgan Williams.
The game opened towards the end of the half, with a couple of breaks and loose passes from both sides.
Pedr Jones was given a yellow just before halftime, and the score was reduced when they got the try
Earl-Jones was unable to add to the halftime score when he knocked a penalty wide.

The 2nd half began with an arm wrestle at the scrum with both sides equal.
Aberavon were trying to find the space, but some great work at the breakdown again from Dan Owen gave RGC the ball.
That space was found when Aberavon broke down the left wing and scored. Davies converted to close the score to 5 points.
Aberavon were causing some frights in the Gogs defence with another break.
RGC were given the penalty but then was reversed and Afon Bagshaw was yellow carded.  If that was a blow, then it was made harder when Aberavon scored from the driving maul and then took the lead for the 1st time with the Davies conversion.
From the restart the Gogs were on the front foot, muti-phases, then Delwyn Jones picked it up on the touchline and managed to take the tackles, stay on the pitch and score in the corner. Earl-Jones.
The ebb and flow of the game continued, and it wasn’t long before Aberavon regained the lead after the Scrum pushed and they get the touchdown. Davies conversion gave his side a 2-point lead.

Huw Worthington making his return to RGC added some experience and strong carries when he came on, and smashed the shed door of the Aberavon defence with a strong run before being held up.
With the clock ticking down, the crowds nerves rising RGC showed some great composure, got the possession, and worked the pitch and when Afon Bagshaw bounced the tackles, made good yards it set up the attack for Matt Buchanan to score. Earl-Jones conversion.
With the lead, RGC got hold of the ball and managed to keep it to end the game with a bonus point win.

Ceri Jones
“We chatted before hand about the control and handling the set-piece and we did that until the end of the 1st half when our discipline started to be lost.
They brought on that experienced pack at halftime and we had to step up at the scrum.  We are still a young team, but the gametime and pain suffered over the past couple of defeats has given us strength in depth.  Tal Taylor getting 70 minutes, Harri Hughes, Gareth Parry and Charlie Probert all have minutes under their belt.
Also we have benefited with having the experience of Huw Worthington, Afon Bagshaw, Sam Williams and Huw Taylor today, definitely helped the boys around at key times. In that last minute we kept the ball and controlled the game well to see it out.
RGC is about developing players, and we are doing that. Today was a tight game, and we found a way to win, and credit to them for doing that today”