11 Feb 2023
RGC 36 Newport 21
11th February 2023
Newport had most of the ball and the territory in the opening 10 minutes and tested the Gogs with the driving mauls, scrum attacks and a few dangerous phase plays but credit to RGC who tackled strong and kept their discipline.
At one stage Newport were at the whitewash before the ball was spilled and seconds later Afon Bagshaw was racing down the wing.
The opening score came against the flow of play with a Dion Jones penalty.
Soon after Newport did make and attack count when the pack drove over with Henry Palmer scoring before O’Driscoll hit the conversion.
It was all Newport, with ball in hand and when they went on the attack again they shifted the ball wide and replacement Dafydd Buckland went in with his first touch. Converted by O'Driscoll
The Gogs needed to get back in the game and they did so after they opted for the penalty kick to touch and the attacking line-out. They were fully rewarded when Jordan Jones and the maul drove hard for the try. Dion Jones couldn’t put the conversion between the posts.
Again the maul did some damage as it pushed Newport back from the halfway, as they started to utilise the pack.
They got the penalty, they hit touch and from the lineout Jordan Jones picked up his 2nd try from the attacking maul. Dion Jones nudged the extras to give his side a 1 point lead.
RGC finished the half on the attack and moving the ball. Afon Bagshaw was tackled into touch after Delwyn Jones set him up with a quick passing move.
The Gogs extended their lead early in the 2nd half when the Jones brothers linked up before Rhys Tudor made a quick pickup from the ruck and popped a pass for scrum-half Efan Jones to touchdown. Again Dion Jones was on target with the conversion.
At the scrum the advantage ebbed and flowed between both sides at times, and the games pace was in 2nd gear for much of it.
Errors and penalties stopped much of the play, and it was a case of who could take advantage.
Dion Jones tried his luck with a penalty from halfway but it sailed wide of the posts.
On the 70th minute RGC found some space, and Rhys Tudor came inside to collect the ball at speed to crash through a tackle to claim the bonus point score. Dion Jones hit the extras.
It was pretty much job done and game over but credit to Newport who went up the field for the 1s time in the half and Ben Roach scored with O’Driscoll closing the points gap.
As the clock ticked down Newport again looked for another score, but when Afon Bagshaw intercepted and raced down the field it was RGC that finished with the try after Osian Burt on his debut collected the ball and ran in behind the posts. The boot of Morgan Bagshaw got the conversion to end the game.
Head Coach Ceri Jones
“We made too many errors in that opening 30 minutes, and gave away too many penalties. I think it was 8/2 on the penalty count and possession wise they had 75% territory.
Credit to the boys as it was only 7-3 on the scoreboard.
We spoke at halftime about moving out of 1st gear, and thought we did dominate. The fitness levels showed as well. That said we did make a few errors when we could have finished the game earlier – lineouts and knock-ons.
Our endeavour was rewarded, and we got the Bonus points.
It was also pleasing for us to give Paddy, Sam Stoddart, Morgan Bagshaw and Osian Burt game time – and keep stretching them in the Premiership. If not for now, it will put them in good position going forward.
Osian Burt getting a try on his debut got the biggest reaction from the players, as he has been with us from pre-season and works really hard – and sums up all the good things about RGC.
We move on to Llandovery and a chance pick up points against another top team. If we are to be in with a chance of a top 4 finish then games like today and next week are the games we need to win”
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