“Ebbw Vale came up on a good unbeaten run, so to get the win is a big positive. We showed good energy and line speed, which is what we asked for,” said RGC head coach, Ceri Jones.
“We picked up a score from that and we need to learn those lessons. Sometimes we make it difficult by playing in the wrong areas.”
RGC’s impressive second half performance saw them pick up a first win in three games. With both teams fighting for a play-off place, the outcome was always going to be critical to their chances.
The Steelmen remain in fourth, but now only hold a two-point lead over Merthyr, five over Newport and seven over The Gogs
Jonathan Evans saw yellow early on for slowing down RGC’s promising attack, which had been started by their chief playmaker Dion Jones and his half-back partner Efan Jones. Dion opened the scoring with the resulting penalty.
The home side then found themselves under severe pressure just metres away from their line and gave away a penalty try following several infringements inside their own 22.
Jones added his second penalty of the afternoon to close the deficit. Evan Lloyd helped his side take a hold of the game early in the second half, converting his own try after challenging RGC’s blitz defence.
Jones’s boot kept RGC in the game and he added two excellent penalties either side of a yellow card for Pedr Jones for a breakdown offence. Despite going down to 14 men, Ceri Jones’ side earned a penalty try at scrum time to retake the lead.
The hosts continued to crank up the pressure, earning themselves a penalty try from the scrum. After some pressure late on Rhys Tudor stepped up to go from coast to coast to seal a 26-14 win for the home side.
BRIDGEND 18 – 8 PONTYPRIDD
Pontypridd’s miserable season keeps on going from bad to worse with defeat at the Brewery Field being their seventh in a row in the Indigo Premiership.
The coaching shake-up that took place at Sardis Road on 10 January, with Gareth Wyatt and Lee Davies taking charge of on-field matters as joint head coaches with Justin Burnell concentrating more on team management duties, hasn’t brought about a change in fortunes as yet.
Two first half tries set Bridgend on track and condemned Ponty to yet another defeat. When they met at Sardis Road earlier in the season in the league, Ponty won 40-8.
The Ravens opened the scoring with a penalty from outside half Luke Price after his first effort at goal drifted wide. His opposite number, Ben Burnell, saw his attempt go wide as the wind continued to make life tricky for the kickers. Bridgend dominated in the first half and were awarded with a penalty try after visiting winger Sam Hayman was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.
A second try followed for the hosts as they exposed an overlap out wide before inside centre Rhys Williams made a break with Price in support to score. Burnell did get a penalty for Ponty’s first points, although they trailed 15-3 at the interval.
After a scrappy start to the half, Pontypridd finally got a try after winger Hayman redeemed himself for his earlier indiscretion by crossing to give his side a lifeline. Burnell’s conversion went wide to leave Ponty seven points adrift.
Despite pressure from the away side to try to bridge the gap, they conceded a penalty within Price’s kicking range and his accurate boot sealed victory.
SWANSEA 33-34 CARMARTHEN
Carmarthen Quins turned the form book on its head as they defeated Swansea by a single point to notch their first win since 8 October when they also managed to win by a single point.
That was against local rivals Llanelli and they picked up another notable triumph at St Helen’s. The Quins pack walked forward over the half-way line with a dynamic maul before providing quick ball to their back division.
That allowed centre Josh Batcup to feed wing Dylan Richards to allow him to open the scoring. Lucca Setaro scored a second Quins try before the home side finally kicked into gear with the forwards going through a few phases to enable Wales U20 full back Iestyn Hopkins to beat his opposite number to score.
A third Quins try followed through Dale Ford, but the home side hit back immediately with a Will Hickey touch down after good work by prop Cameron Jones in the loose.
In the early stages of the second half Carmarthen were awarded a penalty after the home side strayed offside and Scarlets fly half Dan Jones kicked to the corner. A routine lineout five metres out saw Torin Myhill drive over for the Quins’ bonus point score.
Both sides grabbed a try apiece through Hickey and Ryan Davies before Lee Taylor took a close-range lineout for Myhill to crash over in the corner for his second try.
Two late tries for the All Whites by Hopkins and Gareth O Rees earned a couple of bonus points but it wasn’t enough as the visitors celebrated a rare win.
