RGC face big hurdle after a perfect start
ONE would have to trawl though the history books back to November 1993 to discover when Bro Ffestiniog last won at Bala.
It was 23 years ago at Maes Gwyniad when Australian Dave Nicholl, playing his first season for Bro, clinched victory with a penalty.
Last Saturday it was local lad Ian Roberts who secured the Quarrymen a 17-15 triumph with a drop goal to seal an enthralling Division One North encounter.
The hosts soon took the lead though a Rhydian Jones penalty as Bro were penalised for not rolling away.
Both sides went close before Bala wing Iwan Williams crossing for an unconverted try out wide.
Another Lakesiders attack was stopped at source and Bro hooker Tom James kicked the ball upfield. Huw Parry showed his footballing skills and the ball bounced nicely into his grasp, the flanker crossing under the posts with centre Ian Roberts converting to make it 8-7 at half time.
From the restart Bro raced out of the blocks and were awarded a lineout deep into Bala’s 22. A training ground move saw flanker Marc Morris gathering the ball off the top and gained the yardage before off-loading to Mathew Hayden to score under the posts, Roberts improving with the boot.
But Bala were soon back in the lead, fly-half Owain Aled sidestepping over and Jones converting a fine try for 15-14.
The home side then missed two kickable penalties and had a try controversially disallowed.
In the final 10 minutes Bro attacked from a lineout. The Quarrymen went through the phases before sending the ball out to the backs and Roberts’ instinctive drop goal was not struck as sweet as he hoped but the ball went over the posts and sealed the victory.
Bro went down to 14 as centre Dewi Atherton was binned for a high tackle, but despite late pressure from Bala the visitors held on for the win.
RGC have started life in the Welsh Premiership with an amazing four straight wins but this Saturday brings arguably their biggest hurdle yet when leaders Aberavon visit Parc Eirias.
As the boxing phrase says “somebody’s 0 will have to go” when the top two lock horns at Colwyn Bay.
The Aberavon Wizards, who like the Gogs have won all four league games, will not have happy memories of their last visit to Eirias, where they lost 11-8 in the Swalec Cup last season.
Premiership new boys RGC maintained their 100 per cent record this term with a huge defensive performance in a 17-12 win at Carmarthen Quins last Saturday.
The visitors opened the scoring after five minutes.
Tiaan Loots burst through the Quins defence before passing to fellow centre Tom Hughes to cross the line. Jacob Botica kicked the extras.
What followed was 10 minutes of extreme pressure from Quins as they pushed towards the RGC line.
Eventually the pack went over, Javan Sebastian claiming the score. Daniel Lloyd converted.
After the try RGC were able to gain some possession with Afon Bagshaw and Alex Schwarz attempting to spark the Gogs into action again. The centre combination of Loots and Hughes were also combining brilliantly.
Botica was next to have go, and he spotted a gap in the defence and ran through to score a try and convert.
Similar to after the first try, Carmarthen piled on the pressure from the restart and RGC were once again camped in their own half.
It was no surprise that the home side touched down, and it was from a lineout, rolling maul and a big push with Torin Myhill finishing it.
The half time whistle came after a breath-taking play when RGC’s Tim Grey spilled near the try-line and Quins broke away with Carwyn Ap Myrddin running the length of the pitch to collect the ball and protect the 14-12 scoreline.
The second half opened with a huge break from RGC full-back Bagshaw, who smashed through the tackles.
RGC were able to extend their lead with a Botica penalty to the cheers of the travelling support.
The Quins then threw everything at the opposition, but to a man RGC stood tall in defence and also held their discipline at the breakdown.
Just past the 70th minute it looked like RGC had the try but substitute Josh Leach was called back for a knock-on. Minutes later the frustration continued when Bagshaw was penalised for crossing after he broke clean through.
The final five minutes felt like an eternity and Quins inched closer and closer to the line, but RGC made tackle after tackle to prevent them.
Quins did get the ball over the line but Rhys Williams managed to touch down before a Carmarthen hand.
The home side had one final scrum, but once more the RGC forwards dug deep and stopped any last chance.