RGC off pace in Llandovery loss
A DISAPPOINTING opening 40 minutes gave RGC too much to do as they were beaten by Llandovery.
A combination of being off the pace in defence and slow in attack enabled the home side to head into the break 19-6 ahead.
RGC opened the game well, with Tom Hughes and Will Bryan making some inroads into the home side’s half.
The first try came from Llandovery when Lee Reece ran in from halfway to score, and although the scrum half showed good pace, questions on how he was allowed the space from RGC will be asked.
Jack Maynard hit the extras. RGC got back into some rhythm with the backline moving the ball well, with winger Afon Bagshaw having a go down the touchline.
Billy McBryde got them on the scoreboard with a wellworked penalty.
If that gave them some hope, then the poor restart put them under unnecessary pressure, but they were solid against the Drovers’ set piece.
Lee Rees was the Drovers’ dangerman, with some sniping runs from the back of the pack.
The Gogs may have looked solid when Llandovery were on their line, but it wasn’t the case when the home side attacked from deep.
Try number two was another poor one to concede with some soft tackles and chase defence enabling Llandovery to run the ball from their own 22 metre line before Jones crossed.
Around the breakdown was also an issue, and in the space of three minutes RGC were turned over twice.
McBryde was able to score another penalty, after Rhys Tudor and Sam Rogers combined to set up Bagshaw again down the line.
Rees grabbed his second try just before halftime and he darted from the lineout to skip three tackles and run over the whitewash. Maynard kicked the conversion for the 13-point lead.
Whatever was said at halftime, clearly it made a difference with Hughes and Andrew Williams making powerful runs which created some good momentum.
McBryde capitalised and went over for his side’s first try, before adding the extras.
Llandovery had an opportunity to increase the lead, but Maynard hooked the penalty wide.
Andrew Williams again made a surging run causing some panic in the visitors’ defence, but his pass couldn’t find the hands of Efan Jones.
RGC upped the tempo in the second half and were the aggressors around the breakdown. Hughes and Bagshaw were next to crash through the gain line but the visitors were able to get bodies in the way.
Another lapse in defensive concentration led to the bonus point try for Llandovery from Dallavalle.
The boot of Maynard was on point with the kick.
With 15 minutes remaining Hughes gave his side some hope with a try with McBryde bringing the score to within six points.
Llandovery were able to close the game out, and Maynard put the game to bed.
Head coach Matt Silva felt his side made it too easy for Llandovery especially in the first half.
“The talk at half-time was around how we gifted them easy tries, as they didn’t have to work that hard for the lead,” he told the club’s official website.
“We had a choice at half-time, roll over and it would be a 50 point score or go out and try and win the half.
“We put in a better second half performance, and got on the front foot and could have come away with a bonus point if Maynard hadn’t kicked that last penalty.
“In our opening two league games we have played the top two sides from last season, and it doesn’t get any easier next time out against Pontypridd.
“We have a few weeks’ break, but the game can’t come quick enough as we want to get back to winning ways.”
The Pontypridd game will take place at Parc Eirias on Saturday, October 12, kick-off at 2.30pm.
Last season, the Gogs beat Ponty away from home 32-19 in September thanks to a scintillating final 15 minutes in which they scored three match-clinching tries securing a tremendous bonus point victory at Sardis Road, while at home, RGC edged the visitors 18-14.