RGC earn fine win at Llanelli:
RGC made it back-to-back wins with a high-scoring victory at Llanelli. Rhodri King and Tim Grey came into the starting line-up, and Dan Owen was named on the bench for the first time this season after his long-term injury.
RGC were looking to follow on from last week’s win against Pontypridd, against a Llanelli side that has yet to win this season in the Welsh Premiership.
The North Wales side have not found it easy in the past two outings at Llanelli, with the home side winning the games – including a 25-20 victory in April.
Llanelli have gone down to defeats at Swansea (33-5) and at home to Cardiff (33-10), while they did advance to the second round of the National Cup following a 33-13 win at Maesteg Harlequins.
It was an open first quarter with Llanelli taking the lead with a driving maul before Elis Hopkins touched down.
The home side were asking plenty of questions, with Grabham and Kallum Evans both testing the RGC defence.
RGC then grabbed three tries in a blistering 10 minutes.
A loose ball was kicked ahead by Tom Hughes and his chase and another kick got it into the path of Afon Bagshaw to collect and touch down. Billy McBryde added the conversion to make it 7-5 to the visitors.
The second score was the result of some swift passing before Harri Evans skipped inside tackles to combine with Rhys Williams, whose pass to Rhodri King gave the hooker a great team try. McBryde landed the extras.
A Ioan Hughes penalty got the home side back on the scoreboard.
Scrum-half Efan Jones extended the lead minutes later, with the boot of McBryde on target with all three conversions.
Winger Aaron Grabham was proving a good attacking outlet, and he again found some space but slipped as he tried to avoid the tacklers.
Llanelli were held up on the line when it looked like they were over, but they didn’t have much time to wait before they grabbed their second try.
After a scrum, the referee awarded a penalty try to narrow the lead to six points.
The visitors were looking for quick ball, but were being hampered by some handling errors, and they increased as the half went on.
Will Bryan went close to the whitewash after he charged down a kick, before McBryde again was on target with a penalty before the break.
Much like the opening of the first half, the home side were looking bright with ball in hand.
Pressure was building and it was no surprise when Nathan Hart scored.
A Hughes conversion made it 24-22 to the visitors.
The RGC forwards got a foothold and good position and worked towards the line, and the bonus-point try was claimed by prop Will Sanderson. The extras were added by McBryde.
RGC again were unable to build on that score, and after a couple of loose kicks the RGC defence opened up and Grabham took full advantage to break, before Ryan Davies finished with a bonus-point try for Llanelli.
The scoreboard was being made to work, and RGC extended their lead with a try from Rhys Williams.
McBryde smashed over his most difficult kick of the afternoon from the touchline.
Try number six arrived when RGC had numbers out wide and an Oscar Lennon pass found
Bagshaw who crossed for his second try of the game.
RGC weren’t making life easy for themselves and they endured a nervous last five minutes as errors gave the home side chances and they took full advantage.
An RGC kick was charged down and it ended with Jacob Lewis scoring.
Hughes’ conversion made the final score 43-34.
There was one last heartstopping moment for the visitors as Eray Wilson sprinted down the wing as the line neared, but was tackled and knocked on.
It wasn’t a top-gear performance, but it was RGC’s first away win of the season and they will look to continue the winning run next weekend at home to Cardiff (5.15pm).