RGC Edged out at Newport
SRC Cup – Saturday 14 February 2026
Newport RFC 29 – 26 RGC
RGC’s Valentine’s Day trip south ended in heartbreak rather than roses, as Newport RFC edged out RGC in a pulsating SRC Cup clash to seal their semi-final place.
From the kick-off, it was Newport who set the early tone. An RGC knock-on gifted the homeside territory and possession, and they made it count straight away. A powerful early drive from the pack ended with hooker Henry Palmer burrowing over. The conversion was missed, but Newport had struck the first blow.
RGC responded with composure and a little love of their own. Their first visit into the Newport 22 brought immediate reward. A well-organised maul rolled to the line before scrum-half Tudur Jones showed sharp instincts to snipe over. Billy McBryde added the extras.
McBryde’s boot and RGC’s aerial game then helped them build momentum in the Newport half. The tempo lifted, and Sam Williams ran hard at the shoulders, bouncing three defenders in a spell that had the visitors looking full of affection for the contest. Newport’s defence, however, was being worked hard, with tackle counts rising as RGC built phases, though Caio Parry was eventually forced into touch on the wing.
That inability to turn territory into points proved costly. After soaking up pressure for five minutes, Newport went coast-to-coast in ruthless fashion, Ben Roach finishing smartly in the corner. Harrison James converted to swing the momentum back.
RGC answered with a McBryde penalty as both sides threatened, breaks appearing but cover defence chasing down runners just in time. Another penalty from McBryde edged RGC back in front, before Newport replied with a successful James kick on 36 minutes after scrum pressure earned them the whistle.
Newport then fancied a try before the break, kicking to the corner, but RGC showed plenty of love for the dark arts, stifling the maul and clearing their lines to keep things tight at half-time.
The second half opened with fresh energy as RGC introduced a new front row of Gareth Parry, George Roberts and Pedr Jones. The impact was immediate, scrum pressure earning a penalty that McBryde converted.
But just as RGC looked to take control, Newport found space out wide. Winger Fin Baker finished clinically, with James again adding the conversion.
RGC weren’t done yet. Slick hands nearly put Caio Parry away, only for Baker to make a superb cover tackle into touch with the line in sight. Newport were then held up over the line, but errors at crucial moments – a knock-on in contact and a loose kick – kept the visitors under pressure as the tide turned.
Still, RGC found another spark. A line-out and attacking maul did the damage, Pedr Jones crashing over for a try that felt very much like a Valentine’s gift from the forwards. McBryde converted to edge RGC back ahead.
McBryde then stretched the lead with a penalty, while Caio Parry enjoyed some fortune down the right wing, running hard and straight. The game continued to ebb and flow, neither side fully in control – the sort of contest where one moment of magic would decide it.
That moment came when Newport earned a penalty and kicked to the corner. Everyone in the ground knew what was coming. Phases close to the line eventually told, with Harri Ackerman crossing and James converting.
The final minutes were tense. Errors crept in on both sides, adding to the drama. With 75 minutes gone, play was largely in the RGC half.
A forward pass halted one promising RGC move, and although the visitors continued to win penalties at the breakdown, one crucial kick failed to find touch when it really needed to.
That proved decisive. Newport saw out the closing moments to claim the win – breaking RGC hearts, but earning their place in the SRC Cup semi-finals.
RGC now turn their attention to Carmarthen Quins on Saturday 21 February, knowing that a win will keep their own semi-final hopes alive.
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