RGC fightback in vain –
RGC’S errors in the first half cost them dear as they were beaten by Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets.
But head coach Mark Jones praised his side’s second-half performance to get back into the game.
Jones said afterwards: “I think in the opening 20 minutes we gave away five penalties, and add in the turnover ball, Llanelli took full advantage with the lead.
“We then brought it back to a 10-point game at half-time, and we felt we probably left seven points out there.
“The big positive was that the boys reacted after the break, as we gave them a clear message.
“Our scrum did well second half, and when you look at the fact Evan Yardley came down with a virus before the game, Dion Jones is carrying a knock and we had to bring in Harvey Scott from Cardiff Met as cover on the bench, we did well.
“I would like to thank Cardiff Met for their help.”
Llanelli struck the first attack and were rewarded from a driving maul which powered over the line for the try on the third minute, with Chris Long getting it. The conversion was added by Declan Smith.
The Gogs built some phases with Efan Jones directing the play, but handling errors let them down.
Danger signs were again noted when Llanelli moved the ball wide and winger Liam Hutchins raced down the wing but was tackled in touch – much to the relief of the visitors.
The Llanelli lead was soon extended when Tom Prydie hit a big kick over for the penalty score.
Prydie’s boot was also forcing RGC back into their own 22-metre line, and Bailey Rae dealt with a difficult bouncing ball to clear.
Multiple errors were compounding RGC’s problems and resulted in another successful penalty for Prydie on the 22-minute mark. Momentum was with the home side, and they continued to be on the front foot working the ball to the RGC line. They were able to get over the whitewash with the power of Ellis Thomas, and Smith had a simple conversion to make it a 20-point lead.
It was important for RGC to get a score on the board, and they managed it after 30 minutes with a try from Jordan Jones.
They were made to work hard to get over the line, but it arrived after a lineout and drive. The extras were added by Billy McBryde.
A minute later it was a 10-point game when the boot of McBryde hit a penalty, and it was looking like the pendulum was swinging in the visitors’ favour.
Another error from the restart gave Llanelli chance to form another attack and they set about attacking RGC through the middle. They were running some powerful lines with Taylor Davies and Ellis Thomas creating some holes in the RGC defence.
They were able to move the ball wide with some numbers on the wing, and Ryan Davies took advantage with try number three seconds before half-time.
There was another error to kick off the second half when Dion Jones took a quick lineout, but in hindsight was a poor choice as he ended up kicking out on the full, and Llanelli took full advantage to attack up to the RGC line. RGC worked well to defend the line for a couple of minutes and come away with the scrum. The home side would have been disappointed not to have scored with the early pressure and opportunities in that second-half spell.
Mistakes again racked up for the Gogs – they were turned over on halfway, and were then forced back into their own half, and then the lineout misfired and they again lost the ball. Frustrations grew on the field and in the stands for the visitors. The kicking battle was also in Llanelli’s favour, Prydie and Hutchins managing to get good results with the boot to ball. When RGC had the ball the hosts were happy to contain them in the middle of the field, but play was again gifted to Llanelli with another poor offload in contact. Composure was lacking, and players continued to force the ball when it wasn’t the right option. Clearly RGC needed to create the chances to get back in the game, which resulted in the urgency in their play. As the game reached 60 minutes the visitors gave themselves a chance when Dion Jones broke the tackles before passing to the supporting Jordan Jones to run in under the posts. McBryde knocked the extras over.
The visitors found another gear in and around the breakdown and won a couple of penalties to pin Llanelli back in their half.
The pressure was piling on the Llanelli line with a couple of scrums and lineouts.
RGC had the option to take a penalty kick at goal but they backed themselves at the lineout – but Llanelli stole it and cleared.
Both sides knew the next score would prove crucial, and it showed with nerves in the players.
Kicks went to hand, passes went loose and the pitch opened up in the last quarter.
Good line speed from Llanelli as they pressured McBryde on the ball on occasions, making it difficult for the RGC fly-half to release the backline.
RGC ended the game inches from the Llanelli line, with Will Bryan within touching distance of the whitewash.
Llanelli were given a yellow card with Ioan Hughes sent to the sinbin and McBryde hit the penalty with the last play of the game to claim a bonus point for something to take back north.