RGC 24 Cardiff 40
Saturday 14th September
Specsavers Cup
Cardiff claimed the victory in the Specsavers Cup, with a clinical performance as fly-half Gareth Thompsons three penalties in the 2nd half made the difference.
RGC struggled to get going in the opening quarter of the game with handling errors costing them territory and points.
The current cup winners ran in the opening try on 7 minutes by Barney Nightingale with Gareth Thompson adding the extras.
It was to get worse minutes later when RGC when the ball was turned over by Cardiff and ran in by Morgan Allen. The boot of Thompson extended the score.
Credit to RGC who pressed reset and began to make inroads into the visitor’s half with both Tom Hughes and Rhys Williams making breaks.
A composed spell from RGC got them camped near the Cardiff line, and they were rewarded after 25 minutes with the try. Will Bryan ran a great line to collect the pass to cross the whitewash. Billy McBryde got the conversion.
Bagshaw brought some 7’s flair to Stadiwm Zip World with a cute offload from the back of the hand, before George Roberts set off down the line.
Cardiff were again causing trouble around the breakdown, and they ripped the ball from Tom Hughes to race down the filed before a great chase defence from RGC rescued them.
Scores were level on 35 minutes when some good hands and running from Harri Evans and Rhys Williams combine before Afon Bagshaw did the rest and claimed the try. McBryde added the conversion.
RGC will be disappointed that they gave that lead away minutes later with a Leroy Garcia try.
They extended that lead when Jack Brooks crossed for his sides 4th try.
Cardiff were reduced to 14 men just before halftime with Callum Bradbury yellow carded.
RGC took full advantage when Efan Jones pick and go from the back of the scrum and his pass set up Rhys Tudor for the try.
The 2nd half was a less open affair and Cardiff were able to pick up a couple of penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over making it 19-32
Cardiff would have been happy with the pace slowing in the half, as it took the sting out of any RGC attacks. When they did have the ball it was in their own half, and Cardiff nullified that with ease.
RGC worked to get some territory but couldn’t really break through the defence. RGC had a penalty and chose for the scrum, but a huge push from Cardiff gave them the penalty and again momentum was lost for RGC. Thompson hit another penalty.
Robin Williams did claim a try as the game reached a conclusion which gave the home supporters something to cheer about, but overall it was a game where RGC lost too many of the individual battles on the pitch.
It was the visitors that had the final cheer when Nightingale grabbed his 2nd try of the game and send them into the 2nd round of the cup.
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