The flanker was pressed into an emergency role as centre early in the first half after the Blue & Blacks lost first-choice outside half Ben Burnell to injury. Robinson crossed for the visitors third and final try to secure the points.
The former Cardiff regional star proved his all-round rugby ability slipping into the unfamiliar midfield role and still looks to have the ability to play at a higher level than the Premiership.
“Olly Robinson is not a bad player, is he? He is a good rugby player, knows the game and has a good brain on him. He knows his way around a rugby field and showed that by the way he played centre,” said Cardiff head coach Steve Law.
“We played some really good stuff in the first half and showed real character to get the job done in the second half. This is a tough place to come and to get a win.
“We made 11 changes from the side that beat Ebbw Vale to see how some of our younger players would perform and they did the job for us. Winning builds confidence in a squad and it becomes a habit, a habit you can build on. We have hit a really good run of form and we need to keep it going.”
A crowd of 1,326 turned up at the Parc Eiras CSM Stadium for RGC’s first home game of the season and were witness to a hard–fought clash in which Cardiff outscored their hosts by three tries to two to move into second place in the table behind Aberavon as they made it four wins out of four.
RGC are sixth places further back having recorded only one win so far this campaign but proved they will be a tough proposition at home with a vociferous crowd behind them. It was the hoe side’s indiscipline in the first half which cost them dearly.
Twice they went down to 14-men in the opening 40 minutes and they left themselves a mountain to climb in the second half.
“We left some good opportunities out on the pitch and that cost us. Our line out had some errors and then we didn’t capitalise when we were in their 22 for long periods in the second half,” said RGC head coach Ceri Jones.
“We have to be more clinical, and we have to take those chances. We had some good momentum early on, took the points and then it was a 14-point swing when our lineout didn’t find our hands. They broke and minutes later it was a yellow card and a penalty try.
“Playing with 14 men, I think we did alright and stayed in the game but then a second yellow and some errors gave them the chances. If we cut out the errors, then we could cause any team problems.”
Cardiff took full advantage and were 15-9 ahead at the break as they built a lead that they would not relinquish, despite an impressive rally by the home side during the second half.
The home side took an early lead with two quick penalties by Sam Rogers before Cardiff hit back after a period of pressure and were awarded a penalty try when RGC wing Afon Bagshaw was shown the yellow card for a deliberate knock on.
The visitors took full advantage and made their extra man count with a penalty by centre Harrison James before replacement Jacob Lloyd crossed for a try to make it 15-6. RGC replied with a third penalty by Rogers to close the lgap before the home side’s indiscipline let them down again when scrum half Efan Jones was shown yellow for a second professional foul.
Robinson, now playing at centre, crossed for his side’s crucial third try after an impressive move by the visitors in the second half to stretch his side’s lead. RGC hit back with two well-taken tries by Bagshaw and Christian Hone, but it proved to be too little, too late.
Scorers: RGC: Tries: A Bagshaw, C Hone; Cons: D Jones; Pens: S Rogers 3. Cardiff: Try: Pen Try, J Lloyd, O Robinson; Con: H James, Pen: H James 2
