RGC beaten by clinical Cardiff
CARDIFF claimed victory in the National Cup, with a clinical performance as fly-half Gareth Thompson’s three penalties in the second half made the difference against RGC as the visitors won by 40-24.
The North Wales side struggled to get going in the opening quarter of the game at Colwyn Bay, with handling errors costing them territory and points.
The current cup winners ran in the opening try on seven minutes by Barney Nightingale with Thompson adding the extras.
It was to get worse minutes later when the ball was turned over by Cardiff and run in by Morgan Allen.
The boot of Thompson extended the score.
RGC pressed reset and began to make inroads into the visitors’ half with both Tom Hughes and Rhys Williams making breaks.
A composed spell from RGC got them camped near the Cardiff line, and they were rewarded after 25 minutes with the try.
Will Bryan ran a great line to collect the pass to cross the whitewash. Billy McBryde got the conversion.
Bagshaw brought some sevens flair to Parc Eirias with a cute offload from the back of the hand, before George Roberts set off down the line.
Cardiff were again causing trouble around the breakdown, and they ripped the ball from Tom Hughes to race down the field before a great chase defence from RGC rescued them. Scores were level on 35 minutes when some good hands and running from Harri Evans and Rhys Williams combine before Afon Bagshaw did the rest and claimed the try. McBryde added the conversion.
RGC will be disappointed they gave that lead away minutes later with a Leroy Garcia try.
Cardiff extended that lead when Jack Brooks crossed for his side’s fourth try.
The visitors were reduced to 14 men just before halftime with Callum Bradbury yellow carded.
RGC took full advantage when Efan Jones’ pick and go from the back of the scrum and his pass set up Rhys Tudor for the try.
The second half was a less open affair and Cardiff were able to pick up a couple of penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over making it 32-19.
Cardiff would have been happy with the pace slowing in the half, as it took the sting out of any RGC attacks.
When they did have the ball it was in their own half, and Cardiff nullified that with ease.
RGC worked to get some territory but couldn’t really break through the defence. The Gogs had a penalty and chose for the scrum, but a huge push from Cardiff gave them a penalty and again RGC momentum was lost.
Thompson hit another penalty before Robin Williams scored a try as the game reached a conclusion which gave the home supporters something to cheer about, but overall it was a game where RGC lost too many of the individual battles on the pitch.
It was the visitors that had the final cheer when Nightingale grabbed his second try of the game and sent them into the second round of the cup.
After the game, head coach Matt Silva reflected on the loss.
“We were disappointing for 65 minutes. We gifted them some scores and didn’t make them work hard for the win,” he told the club’s official website.
“They were clinical and punished all our mistakes and we lacked energy both in attack and defence.
“Good sides take full advantage when you are not performing, and that was the case for most of the game!”
RGC went 14 points down before fighting back to level the scores after 35 minutes, but the visitors ran in two scores before half-time and increased the lead in the second half.
“We knew it was a tough month for us, and this season every game is a challenge – it is relentless.
“We have Llandovery away next week, so we need to put in a performance.
“Unlike previous seasons there are no gimmies, wins will only come by working hard.”
Elsewhere, RGC Under 16s continued their unbeaten start to this season’s RAG competition with a 42-0 victory over the visiting Dragon’s Red Under 16s.