RGC under 18's entered this season's Age Grade competition at Cross Keys RFC in what turned out to be a very close encounter against the Dragons whilst the U16s were in Newbridge RFC.
The RGC U18s led 13 - 10 at the interval through a try, conversion and two penalties from fly half Morgan Williams they eventually lost 27 - 13. The Dragons scored two unconverted tries early in the second half to take the score to 20 -13 but even though the RGC 18's were a match in every area, against a big physical Dragons side, and with the front row of Callum Mitchell, Luke Williams and Zack Roberts gaining the upper hand at scrum time, they couldn't find that elusive score.
Indeed the Dragons scored with the very last play of the game to make the final score 27 - 13, a scoreline that flattered them slightly but having got the first game out of the way the RGC side can take huge confidence from their efforts this afternoon and hopefully kick on as the competition progresses.
For their opening match, RGC U16's met a Newport Gwent Dragons side already playing the third fixture of their campaign. In a tit-for-tat opening half, both sides struggled to keep the ball, or to dominate scrummage or lineout, but it was RGC who seemed unable to convert their possession into scores, soon finding themselves three unconverted tries and 15-0 down, before a late first-half try from winger Sam Jones brought the score back to 15-5 at the break.
The second half brought more of the same, with RGC still struggling to keep good possession and reap any rewards from some good positive play. As both sides made changes in the final third of the game, Dragons put another unanswered 17 points on the board, having managed to convert just one of their six tries. The final score of 32-5 did not really represent the closeness throughout most of the game, but afterwards, the RGC boys seemed determined to put in the work needed to put up a better performance and continue to develop.
Both teams are looking forward to there first home game when they meet Ospreys age grade squads. U16s at New Field, Rydal School and the U18s at Eirias, both on September 30th.
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