RGC targeting fourth top-flight win in row
WELSH Premiership newcomers RGC will look to make it a magnificent fourth straight victory when they travel to Carmarthen this Saturday.
The West Wales side will be familiar opposition to the Gogs, who lost to them 25-19 in last season’s Swalec Cup.
RGC marked their first-ever topflight home match last weekend with a superb 28-25 win over Llandovery.
Stalwart second row Bryn Williams enjoyed the perfect send-off as his beloved RGC beat last season’s Premiership runners-up.
Williams, who has decided to hang up his boots due to work commitments, received a great reception from the 1,432 crowd at Parc Eirias who witnessed a thrilling encounter.
The home side took the lead after two minutes when Jacob Botica hit a penalty, but before the supporters had settled back down in their seats Llandovery had touched down for a try from the restart via centre Craig Woodall.
Botica put RGC back ahead with another penalty, but the prolific Jack Maynard replied.
The home side then began to struggle and some enterprising play from the visitors, couple with some missed tackles, led to a Mike Evans try.
However, the Gogs have been superb at making the most of turnovers this season, and in the 35th minute Tom Hughes got a boot to a stray ball and chased it down before out- running the chasing defence and dotting down. Botica added the conversion.
The RGC fly-half then landed a huge penalty from the halfway line but a Maynard three-pointer levelled it at 16-16 just before the interval.
Another monster effort from Botica in the closing seconds rattled the post.
The second half opened with less intensity and it was a cagier first 20 minutes from both sides.
RGC’s best move of the game nearly resulted in a try, but wing Carwyn Ap Myrddin was tackled into touch.
The home try did come when, from a line-out, the ball found itself with Ross Davies and the big prop grounded.
Maynard quickly put over two penalties to edge Llandovery back ahead by a point at 22-21.
When Maynard kicked his fifth penalty it looked like the visitors might be going home with the points.
However, entering the last five minutes RGC worked a couple of phases and it was full-back Afon Bagshaw who delivered another moment to remember when he darted down the line to score his third try of the season. Botica’s boot extended the lead.
Despite late Llandovery pressure the hosts held on for a brilliant win.
It was fitting RGC won their first ever home Premiership game on the day Bryn Williams hung up his boots.
The lock, replaced by Mei Parry to a tremendous ovation in the second half, has played a huge part in RGC, and players, staff and supporters gave him the send-off he truly deserved.