Head coach Chris Horsman was proud of his players after the match, saying; “It was an outstanding performance from the team, to come here and take on a full-time team shows great character. We were in the game for 70 minutes and put a big marker down for North Wales rugby development.”
It was an energetic start by the home side and they showed their attacking intent from the opening whistle with a number of darting runs from the backline.
RGC opened the scoring with their first attack after a clean break from centre Mike Jones splitting the Jets defence to score under the posts. Rhodri Carlton Jones added the conversion.
The play was soon back in the RGC half with Sale trying to open up the field with some quick hands and feet, but the North Wales defence held firm. The referee’s whistle was going against RGC with Sale opting for scrums and quick tap penalties to get the try.
After 20 minutes the possession and territory was in Sales favour but the try evaded them with a number of forced knock-ons from big RGC tackles. Carlton –Jones’ right boot was proving an important outlet as he cleared RGC lines to give them some breathing space. When a run from Sale winger Taylor Welch looked like leading to a try Mareddyd Francis stepped up with the tackle of the half to stop him in his tracks.
The home side’s possession finally led to a try after 30 minutes with Charlie Amesbury crossing the line and Fowles converting to draw level. RGC were beginning to get stretched and gaps appeared with Sale soon taking the lead with another try down the left, this time Niall Crosley outpacing the RGC defence. Fowles converted to take the score to 14-7.
RGC needed to get back into the game and showed great character from the restart, after winning the line out the pack powered over and Tom Hughes came up with the ball and the try to bring RGC two points within Sale at the break.
The second half started in the same fashion as the opening 40 minutes with Sale looking to attack with pace and the pressure soon led to a Jets try by Mark Jennings with Fowles adding the conversion.
The RGC defence was being worked hard and the referee’s whistle was against the away side on a number of occasions in the breakdown. A quick tap penalty led to another Sale try with Tom Cruise driving over.
RGC began to make inroads into the Sale half looking for the try to get them back in the game, but a few knock-ons and near defence splitting passes meant the try didn’t happen. Even in defeat RGC 1404 can be happy with their performance and can take plenty of positives out of the game as they build towards Georgia’s visit to Eirias on 31st March (KO 7.30pm).
