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Second Half Performance Sees Off Steelmen

Second Half Performance Sees Off Steelmen 5 Mar 2022

RGC 27 Ebbw Vale 11

5th March 2022

Parc Eirias

 

Head Coach Ceri Jones  again praised his sides second-half performance, which was needed after a slow start against Ebbw Vale

"I'm saying similar to the Swansea game 2 weeks ago, where again today we made errors and our discipline was poor first half.

Ebbw Vale came with more energy and that was visible early on, and as a group, we needed to come out 2nd half and deliver.  Credit to the players as they did that.  We turned the screw in the last 40 and got the result.  In the Swansea game, it was the accuracy of the driving maul that gave us the result and in this game the accuracy of our scrum was key. To pick up numerous penalties before picking up the penalty try is something that deserves to be highlighted

It is not a bad place to be when you get the win, but the players are still disappointed in the performance – so we have to take that on to the next game."

 

It was Ebbw Vale that started on the front foot as RGC struggled to get going in the opening quarter of the game. Territory and Possession was in the Steelmen’s favour as they pushed forward.

Evan Lloyd kicked the opening points with a penalty for the visitors.

The error count was racking up for RGC, with knock-on and handing errors costing them.

Ebbw Vale were piled around the RGC line and worked the ball inch by inch before they crossed the whitewash for the try by Dan Hill. Lloyd was unable to add the extras.

Credit to RGC as they managed to keep the visitors out minutes later and cleared the ball to halfway.

As the half went on RGC managed to make some inroads with Afon Bagshaw and Ilan Evans making some strong line breaks to at least give the crowd something to cheer about.

Those attacking runs led to a penalty and Dion Jones was successful with the kick between the posts.

The visitor's penalty count was racking up and it wasn’t long before Dion Jones added another penalty to close the gap to 2 points at the break.

Ebbw Vale claimed the opening score of the Second Half when Lloyds boot hit the penalty.

Efan Jones began to set the tone of play for RGC, with the scrum-half bringing the backline into the game.

That backline claimed RGC’s first try when Rhys Tudor ran over for the touchdown. Dion Jones again was on range with the conversion to give his side the lead for the first time.

The lead could have been reclaimed by Ebbw Vale, and perhaps the turning point of the game when Lloyd’s penalty smacked off the post.

As for penalties, RGC’s scrum cranked up the pressure and the pack of Ebbw Vale were penalised on numerous occasions before Ross Jones was yellow carded.  Seconds later the referee gave a penalty try to the Gogs.

The forwards again worked to create RGC’s third try when Jordan Scott collected the ball from the lineout and burst over for the score.  Dion Jones kicked the conversion.

It was clear from the reaction RGC wanted the bonus point with the urgency after the try, but the final minutes were played in the Gogs half and were unable to create a chance for try number 4.