Following report by The Oval Zone.
In freezing conditions at Ystrad Mynach, it was the Dragons Women who started strongly and were first on the scoreboard after the home forwards had worked their way close to the RGC line allowing Cerys Hale to break through the defenders and secure a 5-0 lead.
RGC settled in to the game and after a period in which the forwards laid siege to each other, the ball was fed out to full back Jess Kavanagh who showed her lightning speed to score a fine try, converted by Sioned Phillips, to give the visitors a 5-7 lead after 15 minutes.
There was a high tempo to the game with the forwards from both sides enjoying the battle with many big hits stopping attackers in their tracks. It took a length of the field try from RGC centre, after half an hour, by livewire Libby Jones, again converted by Sioned Phillips, to give a 5-14 lead to RGC.
Back came the Dragons and pressure finally paid off for them after thirty four minutes as Leah Price crossed for their second try and a scoreline of 10-14 which remained until the interval.
The opening period of the second half continued with the forwards battling it out in the middle of the field before Rachel Taylor found a gap and raced away to touch down under the posts after 49 minutes. Sioned Phillips converted and the visitors led 10-21.
On the hour, the Dragons started a purple patch which resulted in three tries in a ten minute period to seize back the initiative. First try scorer in this period was Lauren Tracey, followed by Kelly Watkins and then Lauren Tracey made it a double. Llaucu George converted one of the tries and suddenly the Dragons from 10-21 down, were 27-21 up.
With time running out and the visiting supporters urging their team on, a magnificent run from Jess Kavanagh Williams ended with a try and a scoreline of 27-26 with four minutes to go.
The Dragons threw everything at RGC in an effort to run down the clock in their opponents half and it took all of Rachel Taylor’s experience to calm the RGC team down and work their way downfield with penalties and lineouts.
With fingernails being bitten in the grandstand by the RGC supporters and the clock nearing the 80 minute mark, it took another flash of brilliance from Jess Kavanagh Williams to slice her way through the Dragons defence and score her third try and regain the lead at 27-31.
There was still time for one more play and, while the RGC faithful were still celebrating the latest try, Jess Kavanagh Williams capped a memorable performance by scoring her fourth try of the game with the last play, again a brilliant length of the field effort, securing a 27-36 win for RGC and making it two wins out of two in the WRU Women’s Regional Championship.
The Dragons will be mightily disappointed with the loss after coming back to lead in the second half but they played their part in making this an absorbing contest for the vociferous supporters in the ground who had braved the elements to cheer on their teams.
Scoring sequence:
3m try – Cerys Hale 5-0
15m try – Jess Kavanagh Williams 5-5
Conversion Sioned Phillips 5-7
30m try – Libby Jones 5-12
Conversion Sioned Phillips 5-14
34m try – Leah Price 10-14
Half time
49m try – Rachel Taylor 10-19
Conversion Sioned Phillips 10-21
60m try – Lauren Tracey 15-21
65m try – Kelly Watkins 20-21
Conversion Llaucu George 22-21
70m try – Lauren Tracey 27-21
75m try – Jess Kavanagh Williams 27-26
79m try – Jess Kavanagh Williams 27-31
80m try – Jess Kavanagh Williams 27-36
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