RGC score 14 tries in a record Premiership win at Cross Keys
RGC racked up a record point score with their biggest Principality Premiership win – 82-24 against Cross Keys.
Fourteen tries were run in, with winger Sam Jones clinching four in the second half alone.
Both sides went toe to toe in crossing the line in the opening 40 minutes, but the pace and attacking outlets of RGC were too much for Cross Keys in the second half and they ended a four-game losing streak in impressive style.
The Gogs took no time to cross the line with Beau Williams grabbing the opener with Billy McBryde adding the conversion.
Full-back Sam Rogers improved the score with a try soon after with a good line to take the ball and touch down.
Credit to the home side who answered back with a couple of tries to take the lead.
Captain Damien Welch claimed the first, with Sam Withers adding the extras, before Garin Price raced down the wing run to score.
Withers’ conversion gave his side the lead.
Beau Williams managed to cross the line for his second try of the game after Bailey Rae and Josh Leach combined to set the New Zealander up.
Both defence coaches will have taken plenty of notes, with each side running in tries from the first phase play, and Keys responded when Ieuan Jones broke the RGC tacklers to dab down for the try.
RGC added to the try-fest before half time when Bailey Rae claimed his side’s bonuspoint try, before Efan Jones raced under the posts for another score.
The boot of both.
The Gogs’ tails were up and the confidence to attack at every opportunity was clear to see.
The forwards were providing the team a good platform and McBryde converted the backs advantage.
It was much of the same in the second half, with Jordan Scott powering over before winger Rae made it a brace of tries. Again McBryde added the extras.
The next 11 minutes belonged to Sam Jones, with the winger showcasing his blistering pace, and ball control with a hat-trick of tries.
The game was opening up, and winger Jones was superb using the space to create the were taking full scores. As the clock ticked down the scoreboard clicked on, with co-captain Josh Leach crossing the line from close range after some good build-up play.
Evan Yardley then gave one of his barnstorming runs before a clever pass to set Aron Evans on his way, and no one was going to catch his race to the line.
It was Sam Jones who clinched the final score with his fourth as he ripped through the visitors’ defence to race over the line to make it a game for the record books.
Head coach Mark Jones was understandably pleased having watched his side return to winning ways in emphatic style.
“Obviously I am delighted with the result, but we can’t read too much into the score as Cross Keys were having to pull in permitted players,” he said.
“That said we had some academy players ourselves and it was great to see them get a win under their belt.
“Over the season we have picked up 11/12 losing bonus points, and we can put some of that down to the experience levels in the squad, so again we are learning game to game.
“It is a steep learning curve for the players, as we don’t have the opportunity to give them Division One or Championship experience.
“As a young player you have to develop and step up quickly to the speed of the game in the Premiership.
“We knew Cross Keys they would offer us some difficulties especially in the first half, and it was the case but we came out second half and took the chances we created.”
RGC have two more fixtures remaining in this campaign and, after this comprehensive win, will be looking to finish the season with three straight victories.
First they play Merthyr away on May 10 and the Gogs complete their 2018-19 campaign with a home clash at Parc Eirias against Cardiff on May 18.