Caldy 29 RGC 5
Friday 1st September 2023
RGC started the game on the front foot asking some questions of the hosts defence, and it was a question they answered well.
The Gogs will have been disappointed not to have turned territory and possession into points.
Sam Rogers wearing the Caldy shirt showed good pace when he broke down the field to give his side their first attacking platform.
The lineout and maul combined before JJ Tomlinson went over for the try. Sam Rogers converted.
Caldy extended the lead when full-back Hayes skipped the tackles to make a run and touch down, giving Rogers a simple conversion.
The Gogs needed to get points on the board and they were rewarded when scrum-half Ollie Wynn picked up the ball and raced in from halfway.
RGC's defence was called into action and Rhys Hamilton did well to hold up the ball when a try looked on.
As the half edged to the break Rogers extended his side's lead with a penalty that sailed between the sticks.
The pressure was on the RGC line for much of the opening of the 2nd half, with Charlie Probert and Dan Owen putting in a big shift.
Rhys Tudor and Ollie Wynn showed good pace to spark a couple of attacks, but RGC were struggling to build on the phases and build a platform.
Caldy built more pressure and crossed over for JJ Tomlinson’s second try from close range, with Lewis Barker converting.
The homeside continued to win the collisions and RGC were unable to match the physicality in attack and defence.
The Gogs offloaded the bench in the 2nd half Caio Parry and Louis Williams coming into an even more youthful backline.
Caldy again built the phases and capitalised with a late try to make it 29-5 at full-time.
Head Coach Ceri Jones “I thought we were physically outmuscled, and I know we are a young side but there are no excuses, we need to be better.
Early on we showed some good signs and got into good positions but didn't capitalise.
I thought Caio Pary, Louis Williams and Harri Hughes all showed good endeavour but that alone doesn't get you results.
At the moment we have 20/23 players at the level needed and we need to get the rest up to that level.
We have been hit with injuries, and we are fast-tracking players to play Premiership rugby, so exposure to this standard of rugby is invaluable to them and will benefit us as a Region in the long term.
The players know that they need to be better, and it's on me to make sure we are ready for next week away at Cardiff.”