RGC Claim Capital Win

Cardiff 22 RGC 28

SRC Round 10

Saturday 6th December 2025

RGC produced a spirited second-half performance to overturn an early deficit and claim a dramatic win against Cardiff for the Gogs' first league win at the Arms Park since 2018.

It was an edgy start from both sides, with errors breaking the play. First opening chance came when Dion Jones took an interception and kicked ahead before Caio Parry raced down the pitch, but couldn't get his hands on the ball to touch down.

The Goge were ahead a minute later when Full-Back Dion Jones went over the whitewash, and Billy McBryde converted.

The pitch was opening up, and Caio Parry again caused panic down the left wing before being tackled into touch.

Cardiff began to win the collisions and work the phases; they edged to the line and put the ball wide for Joe Goodchild to score. Steffan Crimp converted.

Tempo dropped from RGC, and they were on the back foot, clearing and chasing from their 22.

McBryde attempted a penalty from halfway but dropped short.  Cardiff took the lead on 25 minutes when the maul powered over with Alun Rees grabbing the try.

RGC’s only out was with a kick chase, or boot to a loose ball but possession was in the homesides favour.

The Gogs defence was working well, and on a couple of occasions Cardiff drove to the corner but the visitors came away with the penalty. When looking at the story of the game, those turnover penalties would prove crucial

Rain started to swirl sideways in the Arms Park, with handling errors creeping into the final 10 minutes of the half, which didn't help the pace and flow of an already interrupted game.

RGC were giving the ball away cheaply, not finding touch on a couple of occasions - inviting pressure straight back on them - and Cardiff running deep into the visitors' half.

At 12-7 heading into the break, Cardiff would have felt they should have been more points up, and RGC probably felt the scoreboard could have been a lot worse.

With the wind against them in the 2nd half, the Gogs found it difficult to clear from their 22 in the opening spell.

Cardiff were first to extend their advantage when Crimp slotted a penalty on 58 minutes, pushing the hosts ahead 15–7.

The Gogs replacements made an impact with Connor Dever, Gareth Parry and Sam Williams all bringing go forward in the attack, and some calm heads around the field.

RGC responded swiftly, working through multiple phases for really the first time in the game,  before Gareth Parry forced his way over the line on 52 minutes, with McBryde adding the conversion to narrow the gap to a single point at 15–14.

Gareth Parry’s impact was felt again when he broke through the Cardiff defence, offloading perfectly to McBryde, who finished under the posts before converting his own try to give RGC a 21–15 advantage in the space of 5 mins.

This came despite a setback when Sam Jones was sent to the sin bin, leaving the visitors temporarily down to 14 men.

Cardiff had looked to build momentum themselves, powering over with the drive, with Callum Proud claiming the try, again with Crimp adding the extras to edge the home side ahead 22–21 at that stage.

But RGC struck again with Connor Dever sniping - the scrum half found space and crossed for a bonus-point try, converted once more by McBryde, giving RGC a 28–22 lead.

The match remained fiercely contested, but RGC’s clinical finishing and resilience was being rewarded.

Cardiff were awarded a kickable penalty, but backed themselves for another maul attack and kicked to touch. That confidence was soon burst when RGC claimed the turnover and cleared to the halfway line.

It was another try chance, when RGC broke from their 22, and a kick took the ball to the line but after a sprint from Louis Williams, he was adjudged to have knocked on as he dabbed the ball over the line.

With the clock on 80, Cardiff had one final chance, and when a touchfinder kick gave them a lineout 5 meters out, the crowd took a breath before RGC’s James Brown claimed the ball and the bonus point win was secured.

Head Coach Jon Callard, “Our impacts Gareth Parry in particular, Connor Dever controlled the game. All the boys were brilliant today, the effort not to be beaten. We changed a few things at halftime, and it paid fruition...we need to go again, and we haven't won at home yet, we need to go back up to Colwyn Bay and get that win for our supporters.”

After delivering an early Christmas present of a 3rd win on the road, RGC return to Stadiwm Eirias next Saturday, 2.30pm v Pontypool