Having broken their duck for the season with a win over Swansea, the Gogs were out of the blocks quickly at Church Bank, taking the lead through Ollie Wynn.
But that was as good as it got for the Gogs who, despite another try scored by Sam Stoddart, which Sam Earl-Jones improved, found themselves 31-12 down at the break on their way to an eventual 50-19 reverse.
“I thought we played some nice stuff early on, but I said at half time it was an old school RGC performance – not a good way. We got excited with the ball in attack, but our defence fell off, and missed tackles cost us,” admitted Jones.
“I will take that responsibility and that’s what we need to address this week. We came here after a win last week and I expected more.
“I have not seen that many individual errors in a game for a long time. Perhaps we need to look at our mentality, as we can’t come to places like this and ship that amount of points and expect to win.”
Llandovery were inspired by full-back Tomi Lewis’ hat-trick, with Adam Warren, Gabe McDonald, Nathan Hart and Jamie Hughes the other try scorers. A second Stoddart interception try was ultimately scant consolation for RGC.
Llandovery remain a point behind leaders Ebbw Vale who won at The Gnoll for the second time in a month in the battle of bottom verses top. Rhys Francis scored twice off the bench to complete a 35-17 bonus-point triumph over Neath and make it five straight wins for the Steelmen.
Captain Jon Evans, Ieuan Morris and a penalty try were also on the scoresheet. Gethin Tremlett and Steff Williams scored for Neath who remain winless.
Pontypool extended their proud unbeaten home league record to 59 matches following their 41-30 success over Pontypridd. A try from captain Scott Matthews, along with a conversion and two penalties from the Premiership’s leading points scorer Matthew Jarvis, saw Pooler with their noses in front 13-10 at the break.
McCauley Rowley replied for the visitors with Josh Phillips adding a conversion to his early penalty goal. Morgan Lloyd, running through after his own quick-tap penalty, extended Pooler’s lead and further tries from Walker Price, Ollie Drake and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths bagged a fine win.
Jarvis’ boot did the rest of the damage kicked the rest as he notched 16 points. Joe Miles and Rob Jones were the other Ponty try scorers but they would leave empty handed, while Phillips added the rest of their points from the tee.
Newport made it back-to-back bonus point wins on the road, this time running out 34-26 victors at Carmarthen Quins. Buoyed by a dominant win at Aberavon in their last outing, Newport drew first blood through Josh Skinner’s try, converted by Carwyn Penny.
The Black & Ambers held a narrow 17-16 lead at half time with Lloyd Lewis also going over. Penny converted and kicked a penalty. Rhodri Davies scored for Quins in the first half, converted by Jac Wilson, who kicked three penalties.
Scarlets product Teddy Leatherbarrow also scored in the second half for Quins, along with a further five points from the boot of Wilson, but it wouldn’t be enough as Tyler Olding and Kyle Taylor won it for Newport. Penny kicked a penalty and converted Olding’s try with Jac Lloyd improving Taylor’s.
“It was good to get over the line. It’s tough coming down here and it was a big grind for the boys,” said Newport second row Barney Langton-Cryer..
“I don’t think we performed as well as we would’ve hoped to, but the most important thing is getting the win.”
Elsewhere, Cardiff were narrow 37-32 bonus-point winners after an entertaining contest at Bridgend. James Beal and Harrison James scored for Cardiff in the first half, with James converting both, adding to his two early penalties.
That handed them a 20-10 half time lead with the Ravens’ Luke Price kicking a penalty and then converting skipper Zac O’Driscoll’s try right on the break. Dewi Cross and Will Davies-King also scored for Cardiff in the second half.
Bridgend more than played their part in a thrilling contest and further tries for them from Rhys Williams, Chris Williams – on his 200th appearance for Bridgend – along with Evan Yardley secured two points for the home side.
