Gogs eye first ever win over Swansea
RGC will aim to break a jinx when they visit Swansea in the Welsh Premiership this Satur- day.
In five previous meetings with the Swans - four in the Championship and one Welsh Cup tie - the Gogs have yet to register a win.
Two league visits to St Helen’s have brought close 39-38 and 27-24 defeats for the North Wales side, who also lost 29-12 at the all-Whites’ ground in the 2012/13 national knockout.
Swans have also triumphed 16-12 and 39-17 on their two trips to Parc Eirias, so the Gogs certainly owe their illustrious foes one this weekend.
Both teams were promoted from the Championship last season, but RGC have made by far the better start in the Premiership, winning four of their first five matches, while Swansea were bottom before their first win against Cardiff last weekend.
Mark Jones’ side lost for the first time this term when they went down 22-11 to undefeated leaders Aberavon last Saturday.
The visitors dominated the opening quarter and the try-line was broken when scrum-half David Pritchard touched down, Steff Williams adding the extras.
Jacob Botica’s penalty narrowed the Wizards’ lead, but a Williams threepointer in the 35th minute made it 10-3 to the travellers.
The referee had words with both captains for a few off-the-ball incidents and soon after RGC found themselves a man down when fullback Afon Bagshaw was shown a yellow card in the 39th minute.
The 14 men of RGC started the second half with real intent and did not look at a disadvantage when they had the ball.
The crowd were on their feet when RGC’s Shaun O’Rourke sprinted down a kick ahead but could not place a hand on the ball as it agonisingly rolled out of play.
The man advantage did come into play when the Wizards broke down the field in the 47th minute and substitute Morgan Williams, the former RGC academy winger, touched down. Extras were added by Williams.
The playing numbers were evened up when Bagshaw returned, but a minute later the advantage swung in RGC’s favour when the Wizards’ Chris Davies was yellowed for a high tackle.
A minute later the Gogs made that advantage count when they won the line-out and started the rolling maul. The pack pushed over and prop Ross Davies picked up his side’s 500th try in the leagues.
Aberavon’s experience showed as they tried to slow the game down.
However, Botica hit another penalty to close the gap to six points and RGC had their tails up. Bagshaw made another chase from a huge kick which caused panic in the Aberavon defence and delight in the Eirias stands.
The next try was always going to be crucial and it went to the visitors in the 75th minute, when the sheer pace of Stef Andrews outstripped everyone for the winger to score.