AFTER a solid opening 40 minutes, RGC will look back at the second half and have plenty of questions after Cardiff ran in six tries in a dominant opening day display.

It was Cardiff that started well at the Arms Park, testing RGC’s defence in the opening 10 minutes. It was no surprise when they took the lead. Dan Fish worked the ball well before he set up the first try. Maynard missed the extras.

That score sparked RGC into action, as until then they hadn’t had much of the ball.

Dion Jones made a break after a clever dummy, and Jessie Williams carried well to break the gain line.

RGC levelled the scores when Rhys Tudor finished a run down the wing for the try, but Dion Jones pulled the conversion wide.

Tommy Ellis was working well at the back of the ruck, with some solid passing to get the backline going.

The Gogs had the opportunity for a penalty but opted for the tap before Bryn Jones knocked on.

Cardiff began to spread the ball wide, but RGC were able keep a good defensive line, with some impressive work from Jordan Jones. The home side regained the lead just before the break with a penalty from Jack Maynard.

The home side couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second half when centre Millard popped a pass out the back of his hand and Ryan Wilkins collected for a try. Maynard scored the conversion.

Cardiff then began to use the boot to pin RGC back into their own half and another penalty followed from Maynard to extend the lead.

Ryan Wilkin grabbed his second try, after they took a quick lineout after a 50/22 kick and a Maynard conversion made it 25-5.

The scoreboard ticked over when Ellis Bevan took the ball from the lineout and stretched over with another Maynard conversion.

RGC were struggling to make any inroads and the Cardiff pack began to put the pressure on. The Gogs were being made to work hard but struggling to cope and Cardiff took full advantage.

It was more of the same when Cardiff found more space and the pitch opened up with three more tries and the boot of Maynard was on point again. It was looking far too easy for the home side, and RGC will be disappointed on how the game fell away so rapidly.

RGC’s day was made worse when Harri Evans was red-carded. Bevan scored his hattrick before Maynard made it 60-5, to seal an impressive victory and one RGC will need to move on from quickly.