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Beaten By Bridgend

28 Dec 2024

RGC 19  Bridgend 38
Saturday 28th December 2024


After Four home wins in a row, the year ended with a frustrating defeat against Bridgend.
RGC came out the traps firing and were on the front foot from the whistle. Some controlled phases play, moving the ball wide with both Sam Stoddard and Rhys Tudor testing the visitor’s defence 
Dion Jones broke the line in his own 22, and raced down the pitch but the final pass just was out of reach for the fingers of Dan Owen in support.
Bridgend weathered the waves of RGC attacks and hit the sucker punch on 11 minutes.  It was there first visit into the Gogs half, with winger McCauley Rowley finding space to ghost past the defence to score.  Ben Burnell added the extras.
It was a 14 point lead minutes later when a crossfield kick bounced into the hands of Cameron Ellis and the winger dived over the whitewash, before Burnell hit the conversion.
If it was a controlled and measured RGC in the opening 10 minutes, it wasn’t after the brace of tries conceded . Errors crept into the Gogs play, as the knock-ons increased giving Bridgend that platform to build attacks.
RGC were having to dig in defensively as the visitors looked for that third try, and the play was spent in the Gogs half.
The pace of the game slowed, with a couple of scrums and lineouts taking the flow out of the first 30 minutes – which favoured Bridgend with the 14-point advantage.
Bridgend were looking to pin the Gogs back with kicks or regaining possession when RGC returned the ball with the boot.
The Gogs ended the half back on the attack, moving the ball well but again failing to take the opportunity when it was created, with Dion Jones spilling the ball in the tackle after another impressive break.

Sam Stoddard and Dion Jones started the second half with ball in hand, making runs down the left wing, but again the visitors thwarted the danger.
They were rewarded with a penalty and opted for the kick to touch.  From the lineout the maul powered over and Rhodri King claimed the try.  Billy McBryde was unable to convert 
RGC asked all the questions as they pushed for the next score but again the visitors were equal to it. Bridgend were strong around the breakdown and the defence solid with linespeed.
Bridgend again proved clinical in attack when Edd Rowley broke from halfway before Thomas Jevons scored. Burnell converts
It was the bonus point try a minute later when the visitors claimed an intercept and winger McCauley Rowley ran in, again Burnell was on target with the kick
The scoreboard was ticking over, this time for the Gogs after a powerful carry from Celt Ffransis-Roberts before centre Harri Hughes with a strong hand-off to run in for the try. McBryde adds the extras.
Bridgend were backing themselves upfront, and went for another attacking maul, with Corey Lewis coming up with the ball and the try. Again the extras were added.
RGC managed another try, with Osian Burt from close range and McBryde hit the conversion with 3 minutes left and one last chance for the bonus point.
That chance didn’t arrive, but Bridgend did finish with a drop goal and the 6 points to take back down south.

Director of Rugby Josh Leach "We started really well, putting them under pressure in that opening 10 minutes.  They defended well when other teams would have broken.  That was the story for much of the game.  They defended well, with width and made the ruck messy plus took their chances when they arrived.

When they did score, it came quickly and easily for them.  We couldn't really build into the game and they seemed to have the answers.  

It was a huge effort from the boys in attack with energy, and if we brought that to another team in another game then we would have been rewarded but today everything fell for Bridgend and credit to them for taking advantage."