Rugby Union: RGC seek revenge over Cardiff in national cup

RGC will have revenge in their sights when they host a Cardiff outfit which knocked them out of the WRU National Cup last month in a Premiership fixture at Stadiwm Zip World this Saturday (5.15 pm kick-off).

It promises to be anything but a straightforward task for the Gogs, as their visitors from the capital currently top the table after four straight wins.

The last time the North Wales side faced Cardiff was on September 14 in the Welsh Cup at Parc Eirias. On that day the Blue and Blacks were more clinical and claimed a 40-24 victory.

RGC have been performing pretty well themselves, however, with three wins in four matches, including back-to-back victories over Pontypridd and last weekend’s 43-34 try-fest at Llanelli.

In an open first quarter at Parc-y-Scarlets, the hosts took the lead when Elis Hopkins touched down.

RGC then grabbed three tries in a blistering 10 minutes.

A loose ball was kicked ahead by Tom Hughes and his chase and another kick got it into the path of Afon Bagshaw to collect and dot down. Billy McBryde added the conversion.

The second score was the result of some swift passing before Harri Evans skipped inside the tackles to combine with Rhys Williams, whose pass to Rhodri King gave the hooker a great team try. McBryde hit the extras.

An Ioan Hughes penalty reduced the arrears to 14-8 before Gogs scrum-half Efan Jones extended the lead minutes later, the boot of McBryde splitting the posts again.

Llanelli were held up on the line when it looked like they were over, but soon grabbed their second try. After a scrum, the referee awarded a penalty try, the conversion closing the gap to six points.

McBryde landed a penalty to make it 24-15 at the break.

Llanelli began the second period brightly and it was no surprise when Nathan Hart scored. A Hughes conversion made it 22-24.

The RGC forwards then got a foothold and some good position and worked towards the line. The bonus point try was claimed by prop Will Sanderson, McBryde doing the business with the boot again.

RGC again were unable to build on that score, and Ryan Davies hit back with a bonus point try for the Scarlets.  

The Gogs got back on top with a try from Rhys Williams. McBryde smashed over his most difficult kick of the afternoon from the touchline to make it 38-27.

Try number six arrived when RGC had numbers wide and an Oscar Lennon pass found Bagshaw, who crossed for his second.

RGC were not making life easy for themselves and when one of their kicks was charged down, it ended with Jacob Lewis scoring. Hughes conversion made the final score 43-34 to the travellers – their first away win of the season.