RGC storm back to see off Ponty

PONTYPRIDD .................. 18 RGC 1404 .......................... 32

RGC 1404 produced an impressive second half performance to beat Pontypridd at Sardis Road.

Trailing by five points at the interval, Mark Jones’ men reacted in perfect fashion in the second half, crossing for four tries to record a thumping bonus-point victory.

The hosts opened the scoring after just four minutes through winger Dale Stuckey.

The back intercepted an attempted RGC pass on Ponty’s 10-metre line to race away and dot down with Ceri Sweeney adding the extras.

Ponty increased their lead soon after with Sweeney slotting his first penalty of the contest to make the score 10-0 before the 10-minute mark.

The score remained the same until just before the half-hour mark with the visitors scoring from close range thanks to No.8 Tim Grey picking from the base of a scrum and powering over to make it 10-5.

The remaining scores of the half saw RGC fly-half Billy McBryde and Sweeney trade penalties to leave the half-time score at 13-8.

The second half began in impressive fashion for the hosts with the Ponty pack driving their way over from a line-out deep in RGC’s half to score through prop Ian George.

At 18-8 Ponty looked well placed but some poor tackling from the hosts allowed replacement Cam Davies to cross for RGC’s second try of the contest with McBryde adding the extras to make it 18-15.

Then came a flurry of tries for the visitors.

First flanker Dan Owen broke away from a rolling maul to race away and score.

That effort was followed by a bonus point sealing try from replacement hooker George Roberts, making the score 27-18 with just over 10 minutes left.

The cherry was put on the cake with a scorching fifth try through winger Sam Jones as the visitors inflicted a second straight defeat on the hosts.

Pontypridd:

Tries: D Stuckey, I George; Con: C Sweeney; Pens: C Sweeney (2)

Tries: T Grey, C Davies, D Owen, G Roberts, S Jones; Cons: B McBryde (2); Pen: B McBryde

RGC: