Within 10 minutes of the kick-off RGC were 10-3 up with tries by prop Tom Dolezel and wing Dylan Owen.
The Navy had little match for RGCs strong running and effective offload in the tackle and RGC went further ahead with a pushover try from Dolezel quickly followed by good phase play leading to a try by scrum half Sean White. Both tries were converted by fullback Ciaran Hearn.
The RGC surge continued and centre, Nick Blevin, was the next to go over the Navy line, again converted by Hearn. Just before half time great running by man of the match, Jack Moorhouse, RGC 36-3 ahead at the break.
The second half was a very different affair with the Navy containing RGC’s attack and beginning to test their defence. Twice the Navy were virtually over RGC’s try line but their defence held firm.
It began to look as though the second half would be scoreless before RGC put on a late attack and after the ball was worked across field young winger Kriss Wilkes took advantage of the overlap and scored the final try of the match which Hearn again converted.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the victory” said RGC Head Coach Clive Griffiths. “The manner in which we won was extremely satisfying, with several top drawer tries. Equally satisfying was the fact that even with a down period in the second half where we didn’t play much rugby, we defended extremely well for long periods of time without the ball”.
He also remarked: “It was a good game for all to watch, we played some good rugby on a heavy pitch with a wet ball. The more games we play, the better we‘ll get and we’ve got some great games coming up against Enisei, a touring Russian team, followed by Welsh Premiership outfit Cross Keys and a Newport Gwent Dragons XV”.
Commenting on two of the Canadian players who were involved in Canada’s recent Bowl victory over Wales, Clive added: “Although the whole team played well, I’d like to thank the effort of Ciaran Hearn and Chauncey O’Toole, who only landed back from the Hong Kong 7’s the night before, but were both extremely keen to play in the fixture”.
Canada defeated Wales in the Bowl final at Hong Kong with scorers Thyssen de Goede, Chauncey O’Toole and Ciaran Hearn all now based in north Wales.
“I also enjoyed the fact that many of the North Walian players got a chance last night with 11 of the finishing team coming from the region,” stated Griffiths.
With the final score at 43-3 to RGC this was a convincing win and sets the team up well for their next match against Russian touring side, Enisei at Parc Eirias on Wednesday 7th April, 7.30pm kick-off.
