February 02, 2025 - 351 views
RGC made it 2 cup wins from 2, in another game full of tries against Cardiff.
It was a bright start for RGC as they brought pace to the opening minutes. The intent to attack was clear and after a couple of breaks from Caio Parry and Billy McBryde the space was there and when the long pass found hooker Rhodri King on the wing he collected and scored. McBryde missed the conversion.
The trend of conceding soon after scoring has been seen on a few occasions this season, and that continued in the capital when minutes later it was Cardiff’s hooker Manship who claimed a try with a more traditional score from the back of a maul.
Again, RGC went on the front foot with scrum-half Dever breaking into the homeside 22, but was unable the get the ball away and the Cardiff won the turnover.
It was end to end stuff, and the 2nd Cardiff try came on 18 minutes when Centre Darwin-Lewis made a clever one handed offload and winger Das had the pace run it in. Thomas hit the added points.
The Gogs had good ball and territory but were unable to create the space in Cardiff’s defence but when they won the penalty they sensed the opportunity and kicked to touch.
Similar to last week, the maul fired up and King grabbed his 2nd try of the game. McBryde was unable to kick the conversion.
The game again swayed from one try line to another, but this time RGC were able to come away with the penalty when the Blue and Blacks were yards from the whitewash.
Jessie Williams was carrying the ball well, and making good yards and it was from one of those attacks that RGC moved the ball wide before centre Danny Cross collected on the inside to run over the whitewash to score. McBryde was on target with the extras.
Scrumhalf Dever was orchestrating the pace with quick ball at the breakdowns and the backline were dancing to the tune.
RGC will be disappointed that a minute later Cardiff score again, and it was a carbon copy of their opening score. Driving maul and hooker Manship gets another try to level the game.
The pace and openness of the game continued as Dion Jones collected a high ball, and with a step created space to break but was tackled late after a kick ahead.
With the clock on 40 McBryde gave his side a 3-point lead at the break with a penalty from distance.
RGC had a couple of penalties to open the half and opted to kick to touch. This gave the platform to edge to the line before Pedr Jones from close range powered over. McBryde converts.
Deja Vue from the restart and again the homeside were allowed back in the game. They went over with the pack driving to the whitewash and Parry touching down. Thomas conversion closed the gap to 3 points.
RGC’s scrum turned the screw and Cardiff were called for a couple of infringements. When the ball was moved to Danny Cross the centre partnership worked in tandem with Afon Bagshaw on his shoulder to collect the ball and score. McBryde added the extras and again it was a 10 point lead.
Cardiff caused some panic when the put boot to a stray ball and bounced behind the Gogs backline, but a calm Dion Jones collected with one hand to stop the attack.
Bagshaw won a crucial turnover when again the home side were pushing for the score.
RGC were being forced back territory wise, as the Cardiff backline ran at pace and had space to do it but the Gogs were winning the tackles and forcing the errors taking the sting out of the game.
Cardiff were having to force the attacks and look for space, which meant they were offloading at any opportunity. RGC were digging deep defensively and any turnover led to a break to get up the field as quickly as possible.
That Cardiff try looked on before Sam Williams got over the ball, won a superb penalty and they cleared to halfway – taking the wind out of the homeside again.
The coaching staff asked from defensive improvement this week, and it was visible with the workrate and discipline at crucial times when the pressure was building.
As the clock went to 80 minutes Cardiff did break the defence with a tap and go with Wiliams crashing over and Thomas hitting the conversion, but it was RGC who headed home with the win.
Director of Rugby Josh Leach: “The players are happy winning away from home in Cardiff at the Arms Park. An iconic ground and it's been a while since we've won down here so it's a special place to pick up the victory for the boys.
“Obviously we are up against when it comes to away games, long journey, travelling and we're getting a mindset around that - learning to get on the road and win games and as a group. I thought we managed the game really well the first 60 minutes then a couple of silly penalties let them back in.“
