RGC ended the six-game win streak of league leaders Newport with an impressive second-half defensive performance under the floodlights.

The opening 20 minutes was a fast open pace as both sides looked to spread the ball wide. With only 3 minutes on the clock, the Gogs’ Pedr Jones powered over the line with Dion Jones adding the extras, before Dion extended the lead with a penalty one minute later.

North Wales’ development club went close again when Zac Clow chased a kick ahead but he failed to get his hands on the bounce of the ball.

Newport shifted the ball wide and Matthew Powell went in for the score. O’Brien converted to close the gap to 3 points. The home side took the lead on the half-hour when O’Brien scored and converted his own try.

RGC began to put the width of the field to score, after the pack went through 5 phases before shifting the ball wide and Afon Bagshaw set up winger Zac Clow for the try. Dion Jones hit the extras to give his side a 17-14 lead.

It was backs to the wall defending at the start of the second half, as Newport threw the kitchen sink but couldn’t break the RGC defence to their frustration.

The RGC scrum was holding strong as well, with Billy McQueeny adding some power to the pack.

Newport did score after number 8 Ben Roach found himself on the wing and crossed over. O’Brien hit the conversion.

As the clock hit 70 minutes the game turned. RGC’s replacement centre Rhys Williams charged a kick down and skilfully collected it on the bounce, before offloading to Tom Hughes who touched down under the posts. Rogers converted.

Josh Reid was yellow carded for Newport, which lifted RGC into another gear, hitting good running lines with a try came minutes later when the pack powered over and Joe Simpson claimed the score. Rogers nudged the conversion to make it 31-28.

Rogers extended the lead to 6 points with two minutes left as RGC saw the game out in Newport’s half.