RGC open title race

A LAST-GASP Dion Jones penalty fired RGC to a famous 32-31 victory at Newport and kept the Premiership title race alive.

With two minutes remaining, up stepped Jones to kick the North Walians into the lead after the Black and Ambers had led for 70 minutes.

Newport drew first blood as Geraint O’Driscoll ran in from 40 metres. RGC hit back when Zach Clow beat three defenders to score in the corner.

RGC’s Rhys Williams was sent to the sin bin and Newport made the most of their advantage with Matthew Powell powering over. Matt O’Brien added the extras, and he was celebrating again when he hit a superb angle to score their third try.

RGC hit back when Jones released Afon Bagshaw, with Rhys Tudor eventually finishing a well-crafted try meaning Newport held a 21-15 half-time lead.

Newport began the second half with purpose with their forwards dominating the collisions. They finally broke the Gogs’ resistance when Powell jinked his way past four defenders to score Newport’s bonus-point try.

But RGC refused to throw in the towel with a superb kick from full-back Jones gathered by Bagshaw who touched down for another try.

The momentum had shifted in favour of RGC, and they took the lead when Brodie Coughlan touched down off the back of a driving line-out.

Newport attacked from deep with Jack Wright racing towards the line before being tap-tackled by Jones. As he passed, the ball was intentionally knocked-on by Bagshaw, earning the wing 10 minutes in the sin bin.

O’Brien nudged the hosts back ahead, but there was another twist with Jones’ last-gasp penalty.

NEWPORT – Tries: G O’Driscoll, M Powell (2), M O’Brien; Cons: O’Brien (4); Pen: O’Brien.

RGC – Tries: Z Clow, R Tudor, A Bagshaw, B Coughlan; Cons: D Jones (3); Pens: D Jones (2).