A Lee Pearson hat-trick gave Bargoed Blues their 12th consecutive win and extended their lead in the Swalec Championship over second placed Swansea to fourteen points.
Outside half Josh Prosser opened the scoring on December 20 with a fifth minute penalty just before captain and hooker Leigh Meades was shown a very early yellow card following a scuffle with Newbridge second row Ollie Hodge.
The visitors responded with a Kieron Meek penalty before Prosser made it 6-3 with another penalty after some excellent open field play by scrum half James Pizey,back row Steffan Jouxson and replacement hooker Lewis Lippiett, on for the carded Meades.
The game was pretty much a stop-start affair with no pattern or flow but Bargoed finally imposed themselves with the first try just before the half hour mark. Flanker Adam Coupe had burst upfield with centre Rhys Humphries and brother Darren in support. Second row Geraint Edmunds took it on, open side flanker Grant Rogers fed wing Luke Smalley who drew Newbridge full back Gary Wilkes before putting full back Pearson away on the overlap to score at the corner flag. Prosser converted magnificently from the touchline to make it 13-6.
Meek and Prosser exchanged penalties with the latter adding another with the last kick of the first half to see the Blues go in 19-6 up.
It was more of the same from the start of the third quarter with a scrappy game punctuated by frequent blasts of the referee’s whistle. Bargoed however showed great patience and eventually put the game out of Newbridge’s reach with Pearson’s second try. Bargoed called a scrum from a penalty under the Newbridge posts. The drive came on and a Newbridge defender went over the top, referee Stuart Kibble awarding another penalty but surprisingly no card. Bargoed called another scrum and this time quick ball from the base crossed the back line for Pearson to score in the corner. Prosser again converted to make it 26-6.
Second row Geraint Edmunds registered the third try with twelve minutes left – driven over by his forward colleagues from a lineout. Prosser’s kick just faded with his only miss of the afternoon and as the clock ran down it looked as if Bargoed might have to be satisfied with the win but no bonus point.
Pearson however, was looking like regaining some of his previous form after a long injury lay-off, and delivered the bonus point and his hat-trick a few minutes from time. The full back collected a high ball and sent it back up field. A good collective chase allowed Bargoed to regain possession and Edmunds took it on before the ball got back to Pearson for him to finish off he move he had started in his own twenty two. Prosser capped a fine afternoon with his seventh successful kick and Bargoed ran out comfortable winners at 38-6.
Report sent in by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC