Title challenge not yet on horizon for beaten RGC

RGC discovered they are perhaps not quite ready yet to challenge for the Premiership title after losing emphatically 34-10 to Merthyr at Parc Eirias last Friday.

The Ironmen were dominant in all aspects of play in front of the live TV cameras where the Gogs had sparkled so brightly in winning at Pontypridd seven days earlier.

Mark Jones’ men suffered a second home defeat of the campaign, both coming against topthree sides. This weekend they will be up against it again when they visit second-place Llandovery.

Merthyr took an early lead with a seventh-minute Matthew Jarvis penalty, but the hosts replied with what was probably their highpoint of the match.

Wing Sam Jones burst for the line, and although there was a suggestion of a double movement before he touched down, the incident being referred to the video referee, the try was given and RGC were in front for the only time in the game.

Merthyr replied almost immediately, fly-half Gareth Davies producing some good skills before finding centre Josh Martin, who broke through for a try, Jarvis adding the extras.

Home scrum-half Efan Jones almost made it to the line after taking a quick tap penalty, but the visitors got themselves out of jail by winning subsequent ball and clearing the danger.

Half time arrived with the Ironmen 10-5 ahead. It had been an uncompromising battle and the early exchanges of the second period were going to be crucial.

It was Merthyr who took the initiative after the turnaround with two vital early tries.

A power surge from the forwards had the home pack back-pedalling and number nine Justin James pounced for the try.

Merthyr soon crossed for a third time, skipper and second row Craig Locke applying the finish and Jarvis adding the extras.

RGC rallied determinedly, but were unable to cut through the awesome away defence.

Prop Curtis Reynolds powered over, but the try was disallowed for a double movement.

Merthyr rode the storm and then applied the killer blows.

Richard Powell smartly kicked the ball over the RGC defence into space, then collected to score unchallenged, Jarvis left with an easy conversion.

That sealed the bonus point, but Merthyr wanted more, pack power leading to Louis Jones touching down.

To their credit RGC never stopped trying to batter down the door.

Tom Hughes looked to have grounded the ball, but was denied by the upright combined with more top defending.

Nonetheless, the hosts did have the last word when Afon Bagshaw dived over in the corner.