RGC 27 Bridgend Ravens 13
Saturday 29th October 2022
It was the visitors that started the better of the sides and gave RGC an early scare with a penalty.
They went close to scoring a try when the maul drove over but the Gogs managed to keep them out.
The visitors were being given time on the ball and had time to kick the ball behind the Gogs defence.
RGC managed to get some physicality into the game and started to win the collisions, which gave them some momentum.
That momentum got the maul driving before Dion Jones collected the ball with an excellent run to cross the whitewash and convert.
Dafydd Williams extended the lead with a try in the corner, as the winger showed his pace to ghost past the defence to dab down. Dion Jones added the extras.
The pack began to win the battle and looked frighteningly powerful in several scrums.
The Gogs were unlucky not to score again when Dion Jones put a kick in but Daf Williams was unable to get both hands on it to touch down.
Bridgend looked to get back into the game 2nd half but a key attacking spell ended with some solid breakdown work from Theo Mayell.
Both sides were looking to get a foothold on the game, but swapped kicks and a few handling errors which stopped the flow of the half.
The visitors closed the gap when they went over with the driving maul and Paul Short converted.
Minutes later RGC claimed the turnover ball and Ethan Fackrell breaks but the pass went forward when the try looked on.
The scrum made amends to win a penalty and Dion Jones converted.
RGC just needed to get some possession and put some daylight between them and the Ravens, but errors were letting the visitors back in the game.
It was a scrappy spell, with knock-ons, loose kicks and a few wayward passes from both sides.
Theo Mayell put in wizardly work around the breakdown to get the turnover and the penalty which eased the pressure.
RGC managed to move the scoreboard with a Dion Jones penalty but minutes later the visitors claimed a penalty of their own.
Try number 3 came for the Gogs when Theo Mayell scored his first points on his home debut and Jones hit the extras.
Bridgend kept on going and continued to make RGC work hard defensively but gave the supporters a Treat not a Trick on this Halloween Weekend.
Head Coach Ceri Jones
“It was an industrial performance, and we made it hard work at times. I thought our defence was excellent which enabled us to keep them out in the opening 10 minutes. We then went upfield and scored 2 quick tries.”
“You could say it was an ugly win, and that is something the players can be pleased about as RGC’s statement wins are normally down to our attacking game.”
“We will have plenty of work ons, the lineout wasn’t good enough but you look at the fact we have a couple of 18-year-olds calling them – so they will learn and develop.”
"The crowd again were fantastic and the atmosphere was superb, and we now need to build on this. If we add the winning ugly to our attacking game we will give teams some trouble for the rest of the season.”
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