Match report by Howard Evans
Friendly, August 22
A very slick performance by Bargoed showed that they will certainly be among the top three in the Championship again this season.
Their squad, boosted by the signing of goal-kicking ace Neil Burnett from Newbridge, played splendidly at back and forward and provided Bedwas with an excellent workout.
Bargoed were on top in an opening 40 minutes that produced two tries, one from the pack and by a centre, both converted by Burnett.
Bedwas lost former Aberavon centre Liam Gadd to a yellow card for allegedly killing a ball after a tackle and Bargoed’s prop went for a high tackle.
In the second spell that lasted for 20 minutes, Bedwas held the upper hand with No 8 Phil Rees making the extra man to score in the corner after 47 minutes and wing Lewis Hudd took Gadd’s pass for a second after 56 minutes.
Both tries were superbly converted from the touchline by Adam Humberstone, who played for Beddau last season and is the younger brother of Simon, the Pontypridd pivot.
That brought the scores level, but though Bargoed had another player carded, skipper Leigh Meades kept them going and in a third period, it was an interception by wing Gareth Dare that brought the final try converted by Burnett.