December 21, 2025 - 285 views
Saturday 20th December 2025
SRC Round 12
Newport made it 6 wins from the last 7 games, running in 8 tries.
The homeside were keen to make an impact from kick-off and did exactly that. After several phases, they shifted the ball wide, where centre Harrison James collected a well-timed pass to run in the opening try. Carwyn Penny added the conversion.
RGC responded immediately from the restart. Caio Parry raced down the wing and chipped ahead, forcing Newport into a knock-on. From the resulting scrum, RGC earned a penalty and kicked to the corner. The attacking lineout set up a driving maul, which proved too strong, with Jac Petch-Jones claiming the try. McBryde converted to level the scores.
Dion Jones then tried his luck from long range, but his penalty attempt fell short.
Newport opted for touch from their next penalty but were initially held short of the line. However, a crucial RGC knock-on handed the home side a scrum. Newport took full advantage, as scrum-half Dafydd Buckland sniped over from the base. Penny again converted.
RGC reduced the deficit soon after when McBryde slotted a penalty.
Both sides began to use the boot to gain territory, looking to force errors as the game opened up. Dion Jones made an excellent take, kicked into the 22, and chased well to force Newport into touch.
From the resulting platform, RGC looked to build an attack, but possession was turned over, and two minutes later Newport struck again. Winger Chay Foster-Smith finished well in the corner, with Penny adding the extras.
With the momentum shifting, RGC attempted to increase the tempo in attack. Sam Jones and Osian Llewelyn made good inroads into the Newport 22, but the home side secured a vital turnover.
RGC then produced a fine score of their own. Caio Parry made a superb catch, bumped off a tackle, and found space. The ball was moved right before coming back inside, where Dion Jones finished the move. McBryde converted.
As half-time approached, RGC needed to control the restart and maintain pressure, but frustration followed as Newport had the final say. From just two passes, they stretched the defence, allowing Buckland to score his second try. Penny converted to give Newport a bonus-point score and a half-time lead of Newport 28, RGC 17.
Newport extended their lead early in the second half with another well-worked score. Quick hands and sharp footwork opened up the defence, allowing winger Lloyd Lewis to run in the try, with Carwyn Penny converting.
RGC looked to respond immediately, moving the ball wide, but a knock-on brought the attack to a halt and ended the opportunity.
With a healthy cushion on the scoreboard, Newport began to play with greater freedom. They opened up their attack, running hard, direct lines through the middle and consistently winning the gain line. Their scrum also cranked up the pressure, earning penalties and valuable territory.
RGC were unable to regain momentum or change the narrative of the game, with loose kicks and handling errors stalling their progress. Newport continued to dominate the collisions and worked the ball confidently through the hands, with Josh Reid proving particularly difficult to stop, carrying strongly for the home side.
On 65 minutes, RGC finally found some reward. Working the ball patiently to the line, Dafydd Thirsk appeared to force his way over for the try, which McBryde converted.
Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived, however. Just a minute later, Newport crossed for try number six as RGC once again struggled to secure possession from the restart, allowing the home side to maintain pressure and strike immediately.
The scoring continued as centre Harri Ackerman added Newport’s seventh try, with Penny once again successful from the boot. Newport were not finished, and in the 78th minute Aneurin Jenkins powered over from a close-range crash ball, Penny converting to stretch the lead further.
Despite the scoreline, RGC showed real determination late on, digging deep in search of a bonus-point try. Their persistence paid off when Christian Hone crossed the line to secure the bonus point, with McBryde adding the conversion.
Final score: Newport 54 - RGC 31
It is the return fixture next Saturday, when RGC play Newport. 5.15 pm
