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RGC Rue 2nd Half Performance

RGC Rue 2nd Half Performance 2 Mar 2019

All level against Carmarthen Quins

RGC 15 Carmarthen Quins

Saturday 2nd March 2019

 

As much as RGC performed well in the opening half, the players will be questioned on their 2nd half performance in a game that saw them end up all square against Carmarthen Quins.

The scoring stats tell a huge amount with 15 points scored in the 1st half and 15 points conceded in the 2nd half.

It is difficult to sum up the frustration of the 80 minutes in words, as Mark Jones gave his post-match thoughts - “Quins 100% deserved that come back after that 2nd half performance. They managed the game better, and were the aggressors at the breakdown.  Our discipline was a disgrace in the 2nd half. At half time the penalty count was at least plus 6 in our favour and we were blown away after the break.  We talked at halftime about not kicking the ball away and not getting jackeled and I think we conceded 4 penalties as a result of that in the 2nd half. 

Quins clearly got their halftime message across from the coaching staff and the players followed it to get that 2nd half performance.

RGC couldn’t have asked for a better start when Sam Jones went over in the corner after 30 seconds, to take the lead. 

Quins tried to gain some foothold in the game, but RGC were defending well with some solid tackling from Andrew Williams and Danny Cross.

The wind was picking up so both sides looked to use the kick option to test the handling of the backs. Karl Martin caused some panic when he chased down a McBryde high ball.

Centre Cross was next to break the gainline with a good line taking the pass and the tacklers with him.

RGC’s intention was clearly to take the game to Quins upfront and opted for a number of lineouts and driving mauls.  The 2nd try came after a big shove from the scrum before a Cam Davies pick and go to set up Jordan Jones for the score. McBryde had a simple conversion.

Quins never actually ventured into the Gog’s 22 metre line, as RGC contained them well throughout the half.

The penalty count was racking up for Carmarthen which meant RGC were able to clear the ball and play the game in the visitors half for much of the opening 40 minutes.

That all changed it the 2nd half as RGC’s error count ramped up, and they failed to gain any ball or any momentum.

It was all Carmarthen as they worked the ball well and were making inroads into the RGC half. They missed a penalty early on in the half before Jac Wilson was successful with a kick.

Quins were winning the breakdown battle with Shaun Evans causing problems for RGC.

Multiple penalties pinned RGC back, and it was no surprise when the RGC try line was broken and with Wilson conversion it was 15-10.

RGC needed to claim some possession, but they failed to do hold on onto the ball either by kicking it away or getting turned over when they went into the tackle. It was basic errors and would prove costly.

With minutes remaining they moved the ball wide and Dylan Morgan dived over in the corner. With the game all square Wilson had a chance to take the lead with the conversion but he was unable to kick it over from the touchline.

RGC finally built some phases and worked the ball into the Quins half as the clock ran down, but it was far too little far too late in a 2nd half that only be described as poor from an RGC perspective.