RGS Newcastle make progress in the Cup

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RGS Newcastle secured their place in the fourth round of the NatWest Cup in midweek with a 52-0 victory over Gateshead as Will Haigh reports.

With Gateshead having brought together a strong group of player for this season, RGS couldn’t afford to be complacent in such an early round of the important NatWest Cup.

Indeed it was RGS who started the strongest, with good forward drives and pack dominance at scrum time giving them good position. This was used to good effect as a turnover ball at the ruck enabled a huge overlap to send hooker Will Haigh over in the corner, unconverted, 5-0.

RGS compounded this try with another soon after, great offloading play and hard running line let captain and number 8 Will Harrison beat the last man and dived over, 12-0 with the conversion from Jonno Wilkes.

Although many were surprised he hadn’t scored yet, top try scorer and centre Joe Young was able to finish off another overlap as RGS sucked in the Gateshead pack that seemed to be blown away by RGS’ swift and rapid counter attacks, converted, 19-0.

He was at it again 5 minutes later; beating five men in the process of running more than half the length of the pitch to score under the posts, seemingly well worth of his place in the players to watch at St Josephs’ Festival, converted by Wilkes, 26-0.

Soon the young under 16 centre Henry Wilson made his mark with a weaving run through the middle, offloading before the last tackler to flanker Charlie Smith, with his first try for 4 years, unconverted, 31-0.

At half time Harrison, Young and prop Gus Antons were taken off to rest for the upcoming festival at St Joseph’s College, and the younger players came on, such as year 11’s Alex Barton and Sam Chrisp.

These boys played well and paved the way for prop Jack Verrill’s first 1st XV try, with barrelling runs up the heart of the defence, 38-0. Although RGS began to give away penalties this didn’t stop their scrum continuing to dominate, culminating in the Gateshead scrumhalf fumbling the ball over the try line enabling Haigh to dive on a get his second, converted, 45-0.

With the game coming to an end one last flourish came from a counter attack and stand in fly half Lewis Chater ghosted through the defence converting his own great try, 52-0. The game was ended then, a great performance from a youthful RGS side that will stand them in good stead for the upcoming tournament.

By Will Haigh

RGS Newcastle were in action at the St Joseph’s Festival this weekend where they lost narrowly in the Plate final following some excellent performances. Please follow this link for our review of the tournament.

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