RGC 28 Llandovery 23
Super Rygbi Cymru
Saturday 21st September 2024
The Stadiwm CSM crowd were treated to 80 minutes of rugby that had tries, pace and a fair few nails bitten with the Gogs claiming win against the League Champions for the past 2 seasons.
RGC opened with intent with the boot, as they looked to pin the visitors and put them on the backfoot.
They did have a chance early doors, but McBryde’s penalty edged past the posts. The error count was costing them momentum in within a minute a overthrown lineout then a kick out on the full gave Llandovery territory and easy ball.
It was the Drovers that took the lead with a Jack Maynard penalty after 14 minutes.
RGC put the best bit of possession together, with Dion Jones making a break before Sam Williams carried hard. The Drovers were being penalised at the breakdown and McBryde levelled the score with a penalty.
Frustrating the restart was messy and Llandovery were back on the attack, being gifted the ball.
Llandovery took full advantage and Adam Warren broke a tackle to run in for the try and Mayard added the extras.
RGC when the did have the ball, looked to stretch the pitch and Llandovery were struggling around the breakdown to keep on the right side of the referee's whistle.
The Gogs closed the score when McBryde was on target with a penalty from distance.
RGC went close, Rhys Tudor in the corner but it was pulled back for a knock-on.
The crowd were fired up with that spell of rugby, and the Gogs looked to keep up the intensity.
It was no surprise that the visitors were dangerous with the ball in hand Harril Doel and Captain Lee Rees both made good beaks.
Drovers had 2 penalty opportunities and both times opted to kick to touch instead of taking the kick to the posts. It was a big spell of play for Llandovery, but RGC kept them out and the scoreboard down
Scores were level in the opening minute of the 2nd half when Maynard split the posts with a penalty
From the restart Sam Stoddard takes the catch and it fires them into attack. The ball is moved from touchline left to right and back again – as the Drovers defence was stretched. The gap appeared and scrum-half Connor Dever darts through to touchdown. McBryde gets the conversion
It was an open game, and the visitors again attacked with speed, but the RGC defence was managing cover and come away with the ball or a penalty.
Both centres Afon Bagshaw and Danny Cross were putting in some crucial tackles at key moments.
Llandovery were having more of the ball, and more of the decisions as the pressure built on the Gogs. Sam Williams worked hard to get his hands on the ball at the breakdowns and his side came away with a crucial turnover.
Unlike the first half, when Llandovery won a penalty, they took the points, and the boot of Maynard was on target again.
The RGC restarts were pinpoint, and AIR Stoddard was claiming the ball time and time again, creating the attacks. McBryde stretched over and scored.
It was a similar pattern as Llandovery then tried to hit back, penalties and kicks to touch to build the pressure but RCG managed to get hand on ball exit the ball.
When RGC did have the ball, they broke hard and Gareth Parry set up Jack Tomlinson but it ended with a knock-on.
With 65 minutes on the clock and RGC leading by 9 points, the next score was always going to be a crucial one for the story of the game.
Llandovery were penalised at the scrum and Berian Watkins was shown the yellow. The referee moved the ball forward 10 meters and made it a kickable penalty. From that penalty RGC extended the lead from the boot of Sam Earl Jones.
The visitors were pushing for the score, the pace and speed of ball ramped up and so did the penalty count against the Gogs, and Charlie Probert was yellow carded before Llandovery were back to 15 players.
The visitors took advantage and went over for the try and Maynard converted to bring them within 5 points.
Nerves were on show both on the field and in the crowd. Llandovery failed to hit touch with a penalty before RGC knocked on at the halfway line, it was still a game that both sides could have won.
The Drovers had a lineout, and they backed themselves to set up an attack but RGC claimed the ball and Gareth Parry put boot to ball and cleared it up the pitch. It was a full chase from the RGC team and Llandovery were forced into touch. Which got the biggest cheer from the crowd.
RGC looked to keep the ball going through the phases, and they did so until they were penalised for holding on giving Llandovery one final chance to attack.
The Gog’s needed cool heads and discipline, and they delivered in the crucial final play to claim a superb first Super Rygbi Cymru win.
Director of Rugby Josh Leach praised his whole squad in the win against Llandovery “We have talked about after playing Cardiff and Llandovery – seeing where we would be levels wise, and it’s evident the progress the players have made over the preseason and the work they have put in
We want to play a high tempo game, so when you look at the importance of the bench and the fact they need to make an immediate impact when they come on is vital. You can see that over pre-season and the 2 SRC games
Last week against Cardiff we knew we had to make improvements in certain areas and that was our focus and its so pleasing as coaching group to see that we have addressed those areas today.
The next challenge is to build that consistency. We were good for 70% of the game, but it’s about building on today and looking to improve, take that into next weeks game here against Pontypool ”
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