Big win for the Gogs ahead of Neath test
RGC tuned up for this Saturday’s Swalec Cup first round tie at Premiership giants Neath with an 86-0 demolition of Blackwood in last weekend’s Championship tussle at Parc Eirias.
The North Wales representative side racked up 14 tries as they romped to their biggest win of the season at the expense of the Gwent strugglers.
Next up are the mighty Welsh All Blacks at The Gnoll, a team that has lifted the Welsh Cup on six occasions and who are sure to test the Gogs’ abilities to the limit.
After losing 29-7 at Pontypool the previous weekend, RGC certainly took out their frustrations on Blackwood.
Winger Tom Blackwell opened the scoring after two minutes when he went over in the corner, Rhodri Carlton-Jones adding the extras.
Blackwell then combined with Afon Bagshaw for the second try, CarltonJones landing another conversion.
The home back-line were looking dangerous every time they had ball in hand, and it became even more difficult for the visitors when they were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card for Joe Phelps.
The Gogs made that man advantage count when they piled the pressure on the Blackwood line, and after a driving maul Andrew Williams came up with the try.
Blackwell claimed another two tries, one improved with the boot, to make it a hat-trick and sealed the bonus.
Richard Hopkins ticked the scoreboard over with a try on his return to the side after a good break and with the Carlton Jones addition it was six tries and a 38-0 lead at the interval.
If the Eirias crowd had thought the Gogs would ease off in the second period they were given an answer with Harri Evans scoring after some good pace and running from Tiaan Loots straight from the kick-off.
The hosts were attacking the gainline with every play and the tries kept on flowing, Kelvin Davies, Blackwell and Bagshaw notching up scores, James Lang splitting the posts with one kick for 60-0.
The Eirias crowd were being treated to some of the best rugby of the season, and the pack were not letting up on the defensive work either with the scrum dominating on a number of occasions.
Bagshaw, Davies and Williams added tries, Lang succeeding twice more with the boot.
The try count increased to 14 when Andy Baston went over near the end with Lang clearing the posts with the conversion.
Plenty of positives over the 80 minutes as RGC were impressive from the opening whistle.
The pack dominated which enabled Josh Leach to control the backs who made the right passes at the right time. They were efficient in the breakdown, and the ball was recycled quickly at every opportunity.