RGC 1404 v Newport RFC April 5th 2025
Newport RFC headed north for their annual visit to Colwyn Bay on the back of an exhilarating, roller-coaster of game at home to Pontypool last Sunday.
Ty Morris shuffled his squad again, Harry Fry getting a start at loosehead and a continuation of the return of Jenko, former captain Rhys Jenkins lining up at 6. Aside from young Sam Potter, the rest of the travelling squad looked settled and familiar.
Newport hosted RGC at Newport Stadium in October, gaining a 62-7 home win in the Super Rygbi Cymru, but RGC are never to be taken lightly on their own turf. Indeed, they have beaten both Ebbw Vale and Llandovery at Parc Eirias this season, hammered Pooler there, and only lost most of their other games by a few points; despite their seemingly lowly eighth position in the league, they clearly have talent.
The weather forecast was pleasant for Saturday afternoon, so good numbers of Black & Ambers travelled north, some making a weekend of it, with the prospect of a sociable trip away and the hope of another fine Newport victory!
Newport were forced into some late changes; Max Williams was a late injury, so Morgan Burgess was drafted in, while Oli Andrew didn’t travel with the team, so Chay Foster-Smith was moved out to the wing, allowing Iwan Johnes to start in the centre. Scott Davies was called up to fill the vacant slot on the bench.
Before kick-off, there was a minutes applause for former RGC scrum coach Jason Roberts, who passed recently. Everyone at Newport RFC sends his family and friends sincere condolences.
As the turbines of the offshore windfarm turned lazily in the breeze, Billy McBryde, the RGC 10, hoisted the ball toward the blue sky. Johnny Morris took the catch, was forced backwards, but Newport recovered as Dafydd Buckland kicked clear.
The hosts exerted early pressure on Newport, patiently going through phases. Sam Williams, the home ‘8’ was prominent as RGC maintained their discipline and forced Newport into mistakes. A hand over the top garnered RGC a penalty which was taken quickly. Good work by the home forwards gave wing Caio Parry plenty of space to dive over and cross out wide. Billy McBryde added the conversion to make it RGC 7 Newport 0 with 4 minutes played.
Jac Lloyd hoofed the ball forward. Luckily, Caio Parry was on hand to fumble the ball into touch, giving Newport an advantageous line out. The Black & Ambers were patient, but RGC strayed offside. Dafydd Buckland went quickly, the big Black & Amber forwards going through the phases, Carwyn Penny was snared, but a deliberate hand palmed the ball forward. The referee, Mr Lucas Yendle, took his time to make his decision. Wing Rhys Tudor was sent to the naughty step to think about what he had done but, bizarrely, no penalty try resulted. No worries, the lineout set, and Henry Palmer bulldozed his way across the line. Jac Lloyd added the two-pointer to make it RGC 7 Newport 7 on 14 minutes.
Henry Palmer was prominent again as he claimed an overthrown lineout. Newport piled forward, Josh Skinner biffing into the home forwards, but Dafydd Buckland slightly over-ran Carwyn Penny’s pass, and the chance went begging.
Newport enjoyed a period of dominance as they went forward again. The backs found room on the left, but the last pass went off an RGC hand again. Mr Yendle declined to award a second yellow for the same offence, giving a knock on only. It did, however, present Newport with an attacking scrum 5. The pack propelled forward, Dafydd Buckland delayed his pass out, but it was some initiative from Jac Lloyd to cut against the grain, running back towards the defence, that created the gap for him to cross for Newport’s second try. He converted his own score to make it RGC 7 Newport 14 on 19 minutes.
Rhys Tudor rejoined the fray on 20 minutes, his yellow card proving expensive, but RGC were back to full strength.
Newport were caught offside at the breakdown on 24 minutes, Billy McBryde’s low trajectory kick proving enough to gain his side 3 more points and make it RGC 10 Newport 14.
Newport were pinged offside on 26 minutes, the penalty kick taking RGC deep into Newport territory. Poor work by Newport left the ball unguarded as RGC sniffed an opportunity. Fullback Dion Jones kicked through, benefitting from a fortunate bounce to put Rhys Tudor away. He was hauled down, but the RGC forwards piled in, regaining the ball and more patient, disciplined work allowed scrum half Connor Dever room to bundle over to score the try. Billy McBryde added the conversion to make it RGC 17 Newport 14 on 30 minutes.
Newport were still dozy at the restart as Caio Parry ran back at the Black & Ambers, getting into the Newport half quite easily before being stopped.
The Black & Ambers were penalised again on 37 minutes for not rolling away from the tackle, but Billy McBryde’s kick was wide.
Henry Palmer popped up with the ball again as the half drew to a close. Rhys Jenkins slammed into the opposition, Dafydd Buckland picked his runners before Jac Lloyd found Iestyn Galton, joining the line off his wing, as he barged his way through to dot the ball down on the line with his fingertips. Jac Lloyd improved the score making it RGC 17 Newport 21 on 40 minutes.
There was time to restart, Johnny Morris aggressively winning the ball for Newport, but the Black & Ambers were unable to create much, Jac Lloyd tapping the ball into touch to bring half time around.
Halftime – RGC 17 Newport 21
Jac Lloyd restarted the game, but the ball sailed out on the full. RGC were awarded a scrum over the centre spot, but the folded. Newport were blamed for this and somebody chopsed at Mr Yendle, earning a march back of ten metres. This, now, was in McBryde’s range. He gestured at the sticks and made the score RGC 20 Newport 21 with 42 minutes played. #
A 44th minute scrum folded, Mr Yendle inexplicably penalising Newport again. Billy McBryde tried his luck again but was short and Jac Lloyd booted clear.
Iwan Johnes punched a hole in the home defence on 47 minutes, Johnny Morris following up well, but Mr Yendle missed the obvious knock on in defence, awarding the advantage to RGC. This was then compounded when a free kick was awarded against Newport for an early jump. Billy McBryde boomed the ball away and RGC could clear.
The hosts were still threatening, as a gentle kick by centre Afon Bagshaw was fumbled by Caio Parry. Had he collected it, then try-time beckoned.
Newport were pinged at the breakdown again on 55 minutes. Billy McBryde was clearly keen to keep in touch with Newport and build a score, opting for the kick again, making it RGC 23 Newport 21, the ball bouncing off the crossbar and over.
Newport made a slew of changes, Josh Reid, Harry Fry, Ollie Drake, and Henry Palmer making way for Kyle Tayler, Tom Workman, Nathan Evans, and Tyler Olding.
The Black & Ambers responded brilliantly. Newport won the lineout, a pop pass inside to Josh Skinner, then Ben Roach had RGC on the ropes. The final pass from Carwyn Penny to Chay Foster-Smith was scruffy but effective as the makeshift winger dived in at the corner to score. This made it RGC 23 Newport 26 with 59 minutes played.
Luke Crane relieved Dafydd Buckland of duty on the hour mark, and the impact was immediate. He managed to locate Ben Roach who broke a tackle and popped the ball onto Iestyn Galton. He worked hard, but freed himself from some half-hearted tackling before sprinting clear to score, effectively ending the game as a contest. It was now RGC 23 Newport 31 with 20 minutes to play.
Lewis David and Scott Davies replaced Rhys Jenkins and Josh Skinner, respectively, on 67 minutes as Carwyn Penny and Chay Foster-Smith interpassed, but they couldn’t progress beyond RGC’s 10-metre line.
The Black & Ambers were penalised again on 70 minutes, for a no-arm tackle. Billy McBryde made sure, making the score RGC 26 Newport 31.
RGC fluffed the restart, first knocking on then being driven backwards, Connor Dever eventually hoofing the ball to touch just 5 metres out. Newport won the lineout, Tom Workman struggling to release the ball. Mr Yendle seemed oblivious to the RGC hands in the ruck, but the Black & Ambers regained control, the ball working out to Luke Crane who moved it onward to Chay Foster-Smith who crossed in the narrowest of margins. This made the score RGC 26 Newport 36.
A clumsy restart saw Morgan Burgess upended by RGC. Newport kicked for position, then worked hard under the North Walian sun as Kyle Tayler broke clear. The support was close but knocked on. RGC gambled, trying to break clear, but Iestyn Galton and Carwyn Penny had the situation sewed up, gaining a penalty as the hosts overstretched themselves. Ben Roach, jumping middle, claimed the ball. Tyler Olding coupled on to the maul, as per the Hookers handbook, but couldn’t free himself of the RGC hands all over. He did, however, manage to pop the ball to Luke Crane, who forwarded it to Jac Lloyd to scamper home for the try that sealed the win. The conversion was missed, but the 15-point margin had been established. Newport now needed to hold onto their 26-41 lead to claim all six points from their visit to the CSM stadium, a feat that has eluded many teams this season.
RGC battled on, but their accuracy was ineffective. Kicking directly to Carwyn Penny. An 83rd minute scrum folded in on itself and Newport were home and dry.
Fulltime – RGC 26 Newport 41
Newport RFC are next in action on Sunday April 13th, when they host Ebbw Vale RFC at our ancestral home of Rodney Parade in a Super Rygbi Cymru fixture.
Your City.
Your Colours.
Your Club.
Come on, the ‘Port! #cotp
Fulltime score – RGC 1404 – 26 Newport RFC 41
Player of the match – Jac Lloyd