Indiscipline Proves Costly at Pontypool
Pontypool 31 RGC 26
Saturday 3rd October 2026
RGC came away from Pontypool Park with a losing bonus point after a remarkable effort, playing with 14 men for 55 minutes, in a game in which there indiscipline would prove costly.
For much of the afternoon, the Gogs refused to let the numerical disadvantage show, working hard in both attack and defence. But when the crucial moments arrived, Pontypool found the space they needed and took advantage.
RGC started brightly, moving the ball through the hands and looking to stretch the home defence. On a couple of occasions the ball was fired wide, but accuracy let the visitors down and the momentum was lost.
There were also good early signs in the scrum, with RGC looking to establish some dominance up front.
It was Pontypool who had the first opportunity to put points on the board, but a penalty attempt from distance went wide.
The home side then built some pressure, looking to get their maul attack going, before Sam Williams worked hard at the breakdown to earn a turnover.
It was a close opening spell, with the feeling that the first score could be an important one.
Delwyn Jones was making good yards with ball in hand, breaking tackles and getting RGC up the field, but the Gogs were finding themselves increasingly in their own half as Pontypool scrum-half Carter Pritchard looked to dictate play.
The home side eventually struck first, Kieran Meek making no mistake with a penalty after 17 minutes.
Just two minutes later, Billy McBryde levelled things up with a penalty of his own.
Then came the game's major turning point.
On 25 minutes, RGC winger Ieuan Cornelius was shown a red card, while Pontypool's Scott Matthews was shown yellow.
The incident started with Pontypool being penalised for a high tackle before a scuffle off the ball saw the decision reversed, leaving RGC a man down for the remainder of the match.
Pontypool immediately looked to exploit the extra space. Carrick McDonough found room on the right wing and sprinted in for the first try of the afternoon, with Meek adding the extras.
With both sides temporarily down to 14 men, RGC needed a response and went looking for points. They had territory and pressure, with the pack edging towards the Pontypool line on a couple of occasions, but came away empty-handed.
RGC eventually got their reward on the stroke of half-time. Delwyn Jones earned a penalty at the breakdown and McBryde made no mistake from the tee to make it 10-6 at the break.
RGC then started the second half in determined fashion.
On 43 minutes, Sam Jones took a pass from Dion Jones and raced through for the try, with McBryde adding the conversion to put the Gogs ahead.
The tempo and work rate without the ball was high from RGC as they worked desperately hard to ensure the extra man wasn't being found.
But another setback followed, with Sam Jones shown a yellow card after going for an aerial challenge but getting his timing wrong.
And Pontypool took advantage almost immediately.
Just a minute later, Carrick McDonough crossed for his second try of the afternoon, with Meek again converting.
At the moments when Pontypool needed to be clinical, they were, and those scores gave the home side both points and momentum.
RGC needed to keep the ball in hand, but composure occasionally deserted them and the final pass failed to find its target.
It wasn't a game for the highlight reel, but it didn't need to be for the Gogs.
Two men down but only four points behind after 55 minutes, RGC were still firmly in the contest. The focus was on staying within touching distance and creating another opportunity.
They did just that.
McBryde split the posts with another penalty to close the gap to a single point with 20 minutes remaining.
McDonough then went close to completing his hat-trick, but the Pontypool winger's foot was in touch as he crossed the line.
The home side began to stretch the game, using the boot to put RGC under pressure.
Momentum swung back towards Pontypool, with their maul again making ground. When the ball was eventually thrown high and long, winger Marcus Jones was able to collect and cross for another Pontypool try.
Meek was again on target with the conversion.
RGC refused to go away.
Tudur Jones continued to look to quicken the game up and made another break, setting up an attacking opportunity.
McBryde added another penalty, after Pontypool found themselves on the wrong side of the referee's decisions with a number of high tackles, but the numerical advantage remained with the home side.
The crucial Pontypool try came soon afterwards, with Buster Bodkin crossing the whitewash before Meek added yet another conversion.
RGC continued to find positions from which to build attacks, but a misfiring lineout handed possession straight back to Pontypool, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Credit to the Gogs, they continued to look for that second try.
After some good phases and a couple of penalties against the home side, RGC finally crashed over, with Sam Williams grabbing the score.
McBryde converted on the final whistle to secure a losing bonus point for RGC and ensure they would take something back north.
Playing for 55 minutes with 14 men against a Pontypool side capable of making the most of the extra space, RGC showed plenty of fight to remain in the contest until the final whistle.
Next Up
RGC return to Stadiwm Eirias next Saturday, 10th October, when Newport are the visitors.
Kick-off: 2.30pm