Following report kindly supplied by RGC News and picture by Liz Bryan.
RGC finished their season with a hard fought win away in a sun-baked Bargoed.
Mark Jones saw his side claim 4th place in the league after the win “Like last week we came from behind to get the win, so the lessons of earlier games where we didn’t claim the wins have been learnt. We knew Bargoed would be tough, physical with quick offloads and they didn’t disappoint. We started the game well, and like the personification of the season we let them back in to the game but finished the job in hand.”
They were 14 nil up after 7 minutes after a strong start to the game. Alex Schwarz scored the opener before Dion Jones backed himself from his own half and evaded tackles to touchdown. Jacob Botica added the extras.
If it looked like RGC were going to race ahead, then the homeside hadn’t read the script as they got a foothold in the game. They were using the boot to the ball well, and kicked to the corners to pin RGC back.
There was plenty of tough tackling and both sides were competitive around the breakdown.
Bargoed got back in the game with some quick hands in the backline, and they opened up the RGC defence to score the try. Prosser converted.
The homeside were reduced to 14 men when scrum-half Bancroft was given a yellow, but RGC failed to capitalise on the man advantage.
In fact it was Bargoed who claimed the next try, after some good work in midfield gave winger Dyer the opportunity to score and close the gap to 2 points. Things got worse for the Gogs when Bargoed took the lead before half-time with another try and a lead at the break.
The 2nd half opened with 3 RGC replacements with Andrew Williams, Joe Simpson and Rhys Williams all brought on to add more experience to the side.
At times the Gogs were masters off their own downfall with unforced errors at key attacking moments.
They were made to pay when Bargoed claimed the bonus try from Mogg’s and a Prosser conversion.
Rhys Williams, Joe Simpson and Robin Williams all went close to the line, but RGC were struggling to the finish. RGC perhaps didn’t play what was in front of them, and chose the wrong pass to the relief of the Bargoed defence.
Pressure was mounting on the Bargoed line and Charlie Connelly was next to go over the whitewash, but he was held up by a mountain of bodies.
Credit to the players as the pace of the game remained high, even with some tired legs in the May heat.
Andrew Williams could be heard trying to drive the players and telling them to show compuser with the ball.
The RGC try came with 15 minutes remaining, Tim Grey who was having an impressive game got it before Botica added the extras.
Botica then gave his side the lead with a great try, skipping tackles to race over the line, and hit the conversion.
The fly-half also played a part in try number 5, after he kept the ball alive with a great catch on the line, before passing to Dion Jones who once again broke free to set up Mei Parry who raced down the line to go over. Botica again nailed the kick to cement the win.
Bargoed ended the game with a try in the corner, with fly-half Prosser hitting the conversion but it was job done for RGC.
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