RGC 1404 make it a hat-trick of wins - match report and views of Ian Harrison, team manager
Carmarthen Quins 14 RGC1404 47
RGC1404 produced an excellent all round display of fast flowing rugby combined with aggressive tackling and defense. The Gogs outplayed their opponents, who are on a good run in the Premiership, in every department scoring seven tries for the second week in succession.
Against five top South Wales teams the Gogs have now scored 188 points & 28 tries and at the same time developing a growing body of admirers for the style of rugby that they are playing.
The scoreboard against Carmarthen began rolling as early as the second minute when Jeremy Kyne scored with a pushover try converted by Connor Braid. For the first twenty five minutes, Carmarthen hardly ventured into the Gogs half and RGC1404 crossed the Carmarthern line twice, on both occasions the ball was deemed to have been held up.
On twenty eight minutes the Gogs got the ball from a maul on the left about twenty metres out and quickly moved the ball across the backs for full-back Sean White to score on the right to make the score 12-0.
On thirty five minutes the Gogs broke from within their own 22m the ball ending in the hands of Tom Seddon who sold a dummy to the Carmarthen defence and ran through to score. Connor Braid again converted. On forty minutes the Gogs won a line out in the Carmarthen 22m and the forwards exchanged some slick pases for Jeremy Kyne to cross for his second try which was again converted to make the half-time score 26-0.
The second half started much like the first with loose-head Hubert Buydens scoring a pushover try on the right which was converted by Connor Braid. Four minutes later however, Carmarthen were on the scoreboard after they broke down their left for Jason Howells to score and Gareth Morgan convert. , 33-7.
This seemed to galvanise the home tem who began to apply some pressure but the Gogs defensive line was too strong and held them comfortable. It was during one of the forays down the right that Dylan Gwyn Owen picked up a loose ball almost on the Gogs left touch down. He kicked ahead, won the chase to the ball and slipped a pass to Tom Seddon who scored his second try under the posts. Connor Braid converted and the score was 40-7.
If the home side were expecting the pace of the game to wane as the heat affected the Gogs players then they were disappointed as their attacks wilted and the Gogs again applied pressure in the Carmarthen 22. During this pressure Carmarthen tried to break out but knocked-on straight into the hands of Tom Seddon who was not going to give up the chance of his hat-trick of tries. Connor Braid again converted to make it 47-7.
The heat was beginning to tell on the players and RGC1404 Head Coach Clive Griffiths used all his replacements each of whom played their part with almost seamless exchanges of personnel. After this, three times RGC players made breaks that looked certain to take them over the elusive fifty point mark only to be stopped just short of the line. On seventy minutes Carmarthen broke form being pressured in their 22 with a breakaway try down their right. By Ryan Llewellyn. Even then he was nearly stopped by the Gogs right winger Dylan Gwyn Owen who narrowly missed pushing him into touch. The try was converted by Gareth Morgan to make the final score RGC 1404 47 Carmarthen 14.
This was a good performance by the North Walians who are winning many friends with their style of play. Carmarthen officials after the game were gracious in defeat and said they were the best team to come there this season and that the pace of the Gogs' game, handling , tackling and fitness were very impressive. The pity is that because of the way the fixtures have come about, North Wales' supporters have few opportunities to see performances like this. The next time that RGC 1404 are at home is Saturday 16th April against a Leicester Tigers side. A visit to Parc Eirias for this is to be recommended.
Before that however there is a little matter of a trip to Pontypool, just one place and one point above Carmarthen. Can RGC 1404 make it a 5-2 record against South Wales sides this year?
Some achievement if they do.
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