Away day woes as RGC lose out
CARMARTHEN hasn’t been a successful away trip for RGC in recent years, and that run of losses continued with a 22-6 defeat on Saturday.
In a game played in torrential rain it was the home side that adapted to the conditions as the match went on, scoring three tries from driving mauls, and RGC were unable to find a way to stop them.
The visitors had a good start full of energy with a kick chase game.
Efan Jones was again looking bright and made a quick pick and go from the back of the scrum to set up Afon Bagshaw, but the winger was bundled into touch.
All the play was in the Quins’ half, and RGC managed to get some points on the board with a Billy McBryde long range penalty.
Some good tactical kicking was proving successful as well, with Dion Jones and McBryde both getting the ball behind the Quins’ defence. Scores were level when Jack Wilson hit a penalty for the home side.
That seemed to settle them, and soon after they got the try from an attacking lineout, with the forwards driving over from distance. Wilson added the extras.
Matters were made worse when Robin Williams was yellow-carded.
RGC were looking to play with pace, and Bagshaw took a quick line-out in his own half to get the ball moving.
That attacking thinking was rewarded with an RGC penalty, and McBryde closed the gap to four points.
The one-man advantage for Carmarthen soon became two, when RGC captain Tom Hughes was given a yellow card for a high tackle.
It wasn’t long before Quins made the numbers count and used the driving maul to get over again, Dan Booth claiming the score.
As the half closed, it was back to the wall stuff for RGC as they managed to see the clock down with no more scores.
The rain continued to pour down, and the Quins’ game management was winning the day.
They kicked well in the second half to pin RGC back and made sure the visitors’ backline had to be on form to collect the kicks.
RGC, on the other hand, were not kicking as well and gave the ball away far too easily without testing the Quins.
The only score of the second half came from the home side, and unsurprisingly came from another drive.
Quins’ pack powered over and Booth got his second try. Wilson nudged the conversion over. RGC were unable to get much go forward ball and didn’t make many inroads through the home side’s defence.
Like many games played in these conditions the pattern became a familiar story for RGC, and they never really tested the Quins’ line. The kicks from hand continued to give Quins easy possession and they were more than happy to collect.
Quins’ Ed Siggery was yellow carded, but RGC couldn’t take advantage of the extra man.
The home side were more than happy to keep the play in the RGC half and kicked the ball well to make sure RGC were having to attack from their own 22-metre line.
The breakdown arm wrestle was also being won by Carmarthen, as RGC were being turned over which again stopped any momentum in attack.
It was very much job done for the Quins, and the game ebbed away as quickly as the rain fell in the final 10 minutes.
The conditions were the same for both sides, but Carmarthen were the ones that controlled the game in the wet, and RGC will have to learn to adapt in the coming months, especially on the road.
Last week, RGC East Schools Under 15s were beaten by their Islyn Schools counterparts 24-14.
However in spite of the loss, coach Allan James was upbeat about his side’s performance: “I am sure that the boys are just as disappointed as I am that we lost a game we could easily have won.
“However this was a huge improvement on our previous game against Carmarthenshire Schools and at times we played some lovely rugby with the forwards and backs linking up well.”