RGC Power over Pooler

RGC 49 Pontypool 19

Saturday 31 October 2026

On an emotional day when players, staff and supporters came together to pay their respects to Jack Davies, RGC delivered a powerful performance on the field to maintain their unbeaten home record.

RGC came flying out of the blocks, with Daf Thirsk taking a pass at pace and powering towards the line before Gareth Parry crossed for the opening try. Billy McBryde added the conversion.

The hosts went close again following another well-worked lineout, but Osian Burt was tackled into touch.

Pontypool responded with a spell of possession and territory, moving the ball wide after a series of phases. RGC stood firm, however, producing a strong defensive effort to halt a driving maul. It was a key period in the game, with the visitors beginning to build momentum.

Somehow, Tudur Jones managed to get a boot to a loose ball, clear it from his own line and collect possession. Just 20 seconds later, RGC had turned defence into attack, with a cross-field kick finding Ieuan Cornelius, who offloaded to Dion Jones. The winger raced in from halfway to score, with McBryde converting.

Pontypool again camped on the RGC line, but once more came away empty-handed, conceding a penalty. Frustration was beginning to show among the visitors, as the Gogs produced another huge defensive effort to keep the scoreboard ticking over in their favour.

RGC's counter-attacking threat was proving devastating. Delwyn Jones ran onto a ball over the top before Sam Jones collected the pass and raced in from distance for the third try. McBryde split the posts.

It wasn't long before Delwyn Jones went from provider to scorer, crashing over for the bonus-point try. McBryde added the conversion.

The speed of RGC's transition from defence to attack was repeatedly exposing the Pontypool defence, with the hosts making yards, finding space and making their opportunities count.

Morgan Allan provided a platform from the back of the scrum, making good ground with ball in hand. Pontypool eventually found a way over towards the end of the half, with a pile of bodies crashing over the whitewash and Ben Williams emerging to receive the plaudits. Kerian Meek added the conversion.

Williams threatened again with a break, but RGC were once more effective at the breakdown and soon had their own opportunity to attack.

It had been a first-half performance in which RGC were clinical in attack and physical in defence, maintaining their intensity throughout.

RGC emerged for the second half with Delwyn Jones carrying hard once again to set up an early attack, while Daf Thirsk also broke the gain line.

Pontypool looked to use the boot to put RGC on the back foot, but the hosts continued to dominate the breakdown battle.

Osian Burt burst through a series of tackles to grab RGC's fifth try of the afternoon, with McBryde adding the extras.

The Gogs were controlling the game, showing patience in possession and refusing to force the pass or unnecessarily increase the tempo, particularly with the visitors struggling to find another gear.

Tudur Jones hit top speed when, seemingly out of nowhere, he found space and accelerated away to touch down for RGC's sixth try, capping a Player of the Match performance. McBryde landed his most difficult conversion of the afternoon.

A minute later, Pontypool winger Marcus Jones crossed in the corner, with Meek adding the conversion.

RGC refused to let up defensively, with Huw Davies quick to snuff out another Pontypool attack.

In a game that was stop-start at times, RGC deserve enormous credit for producing seven tries, many of them coming from broken play and their outstanding ability to turn defence into attack.

Try number seven arrived courtesy of Sam Jones, with the winger powering through a tackle and carrying his opponent over the line to complete the scoring for RGC. McBryde added the conversion.

Pontypool did manage a late consolation when Jack Shephard's kick rebounded off an RGC player. Shephard gathered the loose ball and ran in to score, bringing the match to a close at 49-19.

On a day dedicated to remembering Jack Davies, RGC delivered a performance full of heart, resilience and attacking quality, ensuring their unbeaten home run continued in fitting fashion.