RGC 1404 17 v Georgia 25

http://www.nwru.co.uk/

RGC 1404 17 – Georgia 25, EIRIAS, Saturday 31st March

A Floodlit EIRIAS stadium with a night perfect for good rugby was the scene as Georgia opened the scoring with a penalty under the posts by Saba Nikolava. RGC responded with a penalty chance from Rhodri Carlton Jones but it was a big kick just out of range.

Some nervous opening minutes from the young home side led to a few handling errors, but Carlton Jones' right boot was proving a good option with a superb touch finder penalty providing lineout near the corner.

The opening try went to RGC 1404 after captain Kelvin Davies came up with the turnover ball and broke over the half way line before passing to Tom Parry and after offloading to Ben Stelmaszek who showed quick feet and a turn of pace leaving the Georgian winger bemused to run in for a brilliant try. With the conversion by Carlton Jones the score was 10 -3.

For the opening 15 minutes everything was played in the Georgians half with Davies involved in everything for RGC 1404 as they looked for the 2nd try of the game to make their domination count.

Against the run of play the Georgian winger Gegenava broke away, and it was only the bounce of the ball after he chipped ahead that went against him scoring a try. It was big warning that the visitors could score a try from anywhere.

Georgia began to gain possession and territory and they started to stretch the RGC defence with some long passes using the width of the EIRIAS pitch. The try did come in the 20th minute after flyhalf Kacharava spotted a gap to run in under the posts to give easy conversion for 7-10 lead.

The lead for visitors was extended after prop Levan Chilachava came up with the ball from the ruck to score a try that took everyone by surprise and with the conversion a 7-17 lead. Quick offloads and some back line pace was giving the RGC defence a lot to think about and Georgia were looking to extend the lead nearing the end of the 1st half. After a well worked passing move Georgia had men spare in the corner giving winger Gegenava another a try.

RGC finished the first half putting pressure on the Georgians and as the half time whistle blew North Wales could look back on a 40 minutes with a lot of territory but with some final balls and handling errors they found themselves unlucky to be 15 points down.



The 2nd half started with RGC looking for the try to get them back in the game and where handed an advantage when Georgian centre Jimsheladze was sin binned. RGC pushed on but the visitor’s defence was resolute and didn’t give the Gog’s a yard.

The game was interrupted by a number of stops due to injuries which helped the visitors and RGC couldn’t get any flow. Carlton Jones got 1st points if the half with a penalty. Ben Stelmaszek was unlucky not to score after he was put into touch as he ran towards the try line.

Georgia were holding a strong defensive line, but all they could to is clear the ball time and time again as the waves of RGC attacks returned. Man of the Match Kelvin Davies was driving his team forward with a number of barnstorming runs breaking through Georgian tackles and making hard yards.

A quick tap from sub scrum half Bryn Phillips with some quick passing from the RGC attack set up Stelmaszek to dive over in the corner for his 2nd try, as the home side got the try their possession deserved The points gap was down to 5 points after Carwyn Ap Myrrdin hit a brilliant conversion from the touchline

Georgia were given a penalty practically straight from the restart to and with those 3 points clinched the win, though the 17 -25 score didn’t represent the effort and play RGC 1404 put into the game.

Head Coach Chris Horsman spoke of his pride in the team’s performance after match

“It’s a measure of where we are as a team that we are disappointed we didn’t beat the Georgian International team. We pushed them hard and it shows how far we have come, and no one can say North Wales isn’t for rugby after tonight’s performance. In the first half we didn’t execute the game plan but in the 2nd half we executed and we dominated. With an average age of 21 for the squad the future looks good for us.

If someone had told me 6 months ago when I only had 6 players that we would run a Georgian team close I would have said you are mad

I’m proud of every player but it’s difficult not to single out Kelvin Davies with his performance, and he represents what we are all about, North Wales lad who plays his rugby locally and we want more kids to say we want to be the next Kelvin Davies and when we are in the league hopefully we can spend more time to train and grow the future Kelvins.

Good to see this from RGC, no shame in losing to this Georgian side, and where you conisder where RGC were at the start of the season, this is brilliant!

any idea on what the attendance for this was like?

rugbydreamer wrote:Good to see this from RGC, no shame in losing to this Georgian side, and where you conisder where RGC were at the start of the season, this is brilliant!

any idea on what the attendance for this was like?

No idea sorry Dreamer, I was waiting for Cymru to post this topic but got sick of waiting.

I was going to post a thread on it after my son came home and checked it over handy having a member of the family who is a journalist.

RD it was a full house but I could not go due to personal matters.
To be honest I expected a thrashing but the lads did well against them


Another result Premiership Select XV 32 - 36 Georgia.

Alyn thanks for posting it

Cheers AD... Good read...

C'mon the Goggs...!!

good to hear there was a packed crowd there for it then

Cymroglan wrote:Alyn thanks for posting it

Ah there you are... I been waiting for you to give us the RGC news all day!

really please that they got a full house for it!

sorry for sounding ignorant but what does RGC 1404 stands for?

Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 - Which translates roughly in to Rugby North Wales or North Wales Rugby and i believe that 1404 was the year that Owain Glyndwr held a Parliment in Harlech Castle.

Coleman wrote:Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 - Which translates roughly in to Rugby North Wales or North Wales Rugby and i believe that 1404 was the year that Owain Glyndwr held a Parliment in Harlech Castle.

thanks! appreciate

I thought it was a postcode

red_stag wrote:I thought it was a postcode

You plonker Rodney

Good to see that developing nations can send a team (clearly not the first team as otherwise I'm sure the name Gorgodze would have been mentioned) on tour and that they'll be welcomed for a good round of one off games. Good experience for the young Welsh lads and the Georgians get the chance to gain experience and try to pick up a pro deal in Western Europe. Winners all round.