RGC fell to their third successive Indigo Group Premiership defeat with a disappointing 27-12 loss at Pontypridd.

The Gogs’ hopes of a top-six finish were dealt another blow thanks to a lacklustre display on their travels, leaving them with plenty of work to do in order to salvage their campaign ahead of their home tie against Llanelli this Saturday.

Speaking to the RGC website, coach Saul Nelson, said: “It will be a frustrating few hours watching that game back.

“We didn't help ourselves by not building on more than two phases. When you come here you need to starve Pontypridd of possession and we ended up give them far too much ball.

“We need to look at ourselves before we look at anything else.

“Rugby is about building positive action on positive action and we didn't achieve anything like that today. I thought the scrum went well, and we defended that driving maul, but they were the only real glimpse of positive work.

“I have told the boys they need to take the emotion of this result into training and work to deliver a performance against Llanelli."

The visitors kept Ponty at bay for the opening half hour before Corey Sheppard went over to break the deadlock, and Mason Grady’s fine individual run extended the hosts cushion soon after. Diggy Bird despatched both conversion attempts.

RGC skipper Tom Hughes gave his side a lifeline just before the break when he reduced the arrears with a try that was converted by Billy McBryde, but a Bird penalty made it a ten-point game at the interval.

Another well-struck penalty from Bird extended their advantage further in the second period, but the Gogs’ bounced back and threatened to get back into the game when Afon Bagshaw crossed the white wash following a strong period of possession.

Any hopes they harboured were dashed when Tim Grey was sent to the sin bin late on, and their misery was compounded when Darren Lockyner crashed over the line for the game’s final score.