RGC pipped to victory despite spirited late fightback

LLANDOVERY held off a grandstand finish from RGC to claim a 25-24 victory in Colwyn Bay and move further ahead of Aberavon in second place in the Indigo Premiership table.

Having beaten the North Walians 36-12 at Church Bank, Euros Evans’ side ran into a team determined to make amends and they got close to turning the tables.

“We lacked urgency in the opening 40 minutes, and you could see that from the five turnovers they got,” said frustrated home coach Ceri Jones.

“We were sloppy and lacked speed going into contact.”

With the Wizards losing at Merthyr on Thursday night, the Drovers are now four points clear of their closest rivals for the second home semi-final play-off place and also have a game in hand over them.

With the wind behind them, Llandovery made a good start when leading scorer Jack Maynard kicked a penalty.

Although RGC had plenty of possession, it was the visitors who went further ahead with No. 8 Osian Davies crossing.

Centre Adam Warren then finished off another sharp move to get a try – converted by full-back Maynard – before a penalty by home fly-half Sam Rogers made it 15-3 at the break.

Fly-half Ioan Hughes slipped through for a third Llandovery try, again improved upon by Maynard, before home wing Rhys Tudor nearly scored from a clever chip ahead.

Skipper Afon Bagshaw (pictured) brought RGC hope with a converted try, only for a Maynard penalty to make it 25-10.

But it suddenly became 25-24 when – in the space of three minutes – replacement scrum-half Efan Jones slipped over from a maul and then set up replacement back Harri Evans for a try.

But Llandovery, with forwards Stuart Worrall and Joe Powell outstanding, managed to survive a frenetic finale.