RGC U16 coach Hodgkinson bemoans luck after controversial Ospreys West defeat

The young Gogs’ produced another highly encouraging display but had nothing to show for their efforts after a late penalty try condemned them to defeat.

Hodgkinson, said: “'It’s hard enough being the coach and losing a game to a penalty try in the last minute but how I feel is nothing compared to the emotions I am sure currently being felt by the players.

“Coming back from being 12-0 down, and it could have been more, against such a strong Ospreys side showed a huge amount of character and not a little skill which makes losing in the manner that we did all the harder to take.

“We were by no means perfect, particularly early on, but once the players began to believe in themselves, they showed from 1-23 that they are more than capable of competing at this level.”

Things did not begin well for the home side as they fell behind early on through a well-worked try from winger George Dunn, with Dab Edwards adding the extras, and the visitors’ extended their advantage soon after when Alex Hughes crossed the white wash with 21 gone.

This provoked a strong response from the Gogs, who got themselves back into the tie when a stunning individual run from Fin Hare presented a chance for full-back Sam Stoddard to go over. Carwyn Jones was successful with the conversion attempt.

The second period brought further rewarded from the hosts’ perspective with replacement winger Peter Pattenden touched down in the corner with his first touch, but Jones missed the extras to keep the scores level.

Both sides exchanged scores when Iestyn Lewis and RGC prop Rhys Jones both managed to get over the line, but with the scores tied in the dying moments the referee awarded a penalty try to the away side after the Gogs’ were adjudged to have killed the ball close to the try-line.

Their final Regional Age Grade competition fixture will take place on the 4G at Parc Eirias against Scarlets West on Sunday (3.30pm).