RGC in to next round of Swalec Cup after historic win over high-flying Aberavon plus reports from Denbigh and Abergele.
RGC 11 v Aberavon 8
Following report by Gary Williams
Aberavon started this game showing that they meant business and enjoyed the early territory and possession, going in to a lead of 0-3 after three minutes through a James Garland penalty.
The hosts did well to resist further attacks before they regrouped and started to pose threats of their own in a game which, understandably due to the weather conditions, was littered with handling errors as the ball took on a life of it's own.
It was ten minutes in to the game before RGC had their first opportunity to get on the scoreboard, a difficult kick which outside half Danny Cross, put just wide of the posts.
Two minutes later, and with the RGC forwards starting to assert their authority in the set-piece, a second penalty award was kicked to touch but, from the resulting lineout, the visitors were able to clear their lines.
The home pack were working like demons to frustrate Aberavon's attacks and the game entered a period of midfield play while both sides attempted to gain the upper hand.
After twenty two minutes, RGC got the score that their pressure deserved when Danny Cross slotted over a penalty to bring the scores level at 3-3.
Again, we had another period of play when RGC looked that little bit hungrier for the ball and didn't give the visitors any time on the ball.
RGC's Danny Cross, despite the swirling wind, easily converted a penalty, awarded for a high tackle, to go in to the lead for the first time at 6-3 after thirty five minutes.
When the whistle went for half time it the RGC team who had a spring in their step, as they were serenaded by the home crowd on their walk to the changing rooms.
I'm not sure what was said in the RGC dressing room at half time but they came out like men possessed and launched themselves straight in to the attack, putting the visitors on the back foot right from the off.
A flowing move after three minutes of the half resulted in Tiaan Loots crossing out wide in the corner for a try to make it 11-3 and give the hosts a bit of breathing space. Cross just failed to guide the ball through the posts for the extra conversion points.
This score stung Aberavon in to action and they started to up the tempo and moved the play in to the RGC half. A kickable penalty was turned down in favour of going for touch, but the resolute home defence held out.
The visitors knew they needed a quick score to get back in to this game and threw everything at RGC but, time and time again, they either knocked on the slippery ball or were knocked back by a home side who were defending as if their lives depended on it.
As the game entered the final quarter RGC grew in confidence with their forwards winning loose ball at will and the half-back pairing of Schwarz and Cross either putting in grubbers or lobs with the accuracy of Michael van Gerwen, turning the Aberavon forwards time and time again.
Aberavon, needing two scores to win, made a wonderful break in the last couple of minutes, only for some last-ditch defending out wide preventing a score which would have had the home crowd biting their fingernails and screaming for the ref to blow for full time.
As it was, the visitors did have the last word with the final play of the game, crossing for a consolation try which went unconverted and was the signal for the home team and supporters to start the celebration after a famous win.
Final score RGC 11 v Aberavon 8.
Denbigh 16 v Wrexham 8
Following report kindly supplied by Denbigh RFC.
Dinbych ended a run of four narrow league defeats with this deserved victory against Wrexham avenging an early season reverse and leapfrogging them in the league as a result.
In a highly competitive match both teams did well to withstand the atrocious conditions as incessant rain gradually turned the pitch into a quagmire. As a result this was an attritional contest mainly between the two packs with the heavier Wrexham pack gradually gaining dominance in the scrums and using the possession to generate driving mauls and pick and drives.
However they were then thwarted by a tremendous Dinbych defensive effort as they were continually knocked back in the tackle especially around the fringes of the set piece and at the breakdown which denied them any territorial gain.
In contrast Dinbych attempted to move the ball at every opportunity with the centre partnership of Aidyn Jones and Jamie Winning especially continually probing for openings whilst flanker Dafydd Evans was a constant threat with his determined breaks.
Dinbych started well with a searing break from half way by Aidyn Jones taking play deep into the Wrexham 22. With the visitors unable to break out they then conceded a penalty for outside half Dan O’Sullivan to open the scoring after only three minutes with a successful kick from 35 metres.
Dinbych continued to have the better of the play and went further ahead seven minutes later when hooker Geraint Madoc Jones went over in the corner for an unconverted try after good work in the approach by young prop Harri Evans and flanker Dafydd Evans.
On the occasions when Wrexham threatened the Dinbych 22 they were often pinned back by long touch finders by Dan O’Sullivan. He also gained good ground with searching tactical kicks in attack and from one of these Dinbych increased their lead after half an hour when Wrexham were again penalised for holding on as they failed to clear a kick in their 22 enabling him to succeed with a difficult kick from 30 metres out.
Wrexham eventually opened their scoring just before the interval with an excellent penalty from 40 metres into the wind by scrum half Dafydd Jones.
Leading by eleven points to threat the interval Dinbych increased their lead nine minutes into the second half when they took play deep into the Wrexham 22 and forced the visitors to concede a scrum just short of the line . Scrum half Rodrigo Doiztua cleverly broke to the blind side to make the opening for flying winger Gruff Roberts to score his first senior try in the corner which went unconverted.
The remainder of the half became an increasing attritional battle up front with the bulkier Wrexham pack gaining dominance in the scrums to give them the lion’s share of possession but despite their forward dives they were continually pegged back by a stonewall Dinbych defensive effort which denied them any line breaks.
Wrexham had to wait until the dying minutes to eventually reduce the deficit when replacement prop John Morton went over for an unconverted try from short range after a series of driving mauls but this was too little and too late to have any influence on the result.
Abergele 2nds 38 v Rhyl 2nds 3
Following report kindly supplied by Abergele RFC.
Pentre Mawr provided an oasis of community rugby during a weekend of Internationals, the heavy pitch and slippery conditions were dealt with well by 2 teams determined to play an open game and a sympathetic approach by referee Gerallt Evans whose great experience of the game allowed the game to flow.
Both clubs stuck with their regulars avoiding the chance to give any 1st teamers an outing which made for a closer encounter than the score line suggests.
Gele have the benefit of playing in the North Wales 2nd XV League and their exposure to a higher tempo game proved to be the difference, the forwards matched each other in open play but the Gele scrum was on top for most of the day, only the experience of scrum half, Keith Jones, ensured a steady of supply of ball for Rhyl.
The deadlock was broken by Calen Jones who showed great evasion by dancing through the defence to score under the posts this was followed by a charge up the wing by Ed Davies who was looking to make a claim for his 1st XV place. Both tries were converted along with a penalty by Callum Mattcock to take the score 17-0 at the break.
Gele upped the tempo from the kick off and the introduction of Tomo Coathup injected some pace into the Gele back line. Calen Jones added a second try followed by Rich Medlicott crossing for an individual effort and the evergreen Simon Hughes getting on the end of a great team effort to round off the scoring. Callum Mattock kept up his 100% record and Rhyl had a penalty as a reward for their efforts.
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