Bargoed withstood a second-half siege by Narberth who clawed back a 19 point half-time deficit to come within a score of beating the Blues on February 14.
But Bargoed held on to win 17-22 and maintain their unbeaten record in the Swalec Championship in a thrilling encounter at the Lewis Lloyd ground.
The Otters are the only club this season to deny Bargoed a bonus point win and they did it again, restricting the league’s runaway leaders to a three try total.
The game couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for Bargoed as Jordan Purcell hit the line at pace from full back and the youngster jinked his way to the line, wrong-footing four Narberth defenders to score a brilliant solo effort from 35 metres.
Josh Prosser added the extras and the scoreboard was ticking over after only two minutes.
Defences were on top until just before the half-hour when Bargoed extended their lead through wing
Lewis Protheroe who twisted out of a tackle and his strength took him over for a try. Prosser again converted well.
Five minutes before half time Bargoed were cruising and Prosser opted to kick a penalty to the corner rather than take a fairly simple shot at goal.
The inevitable catch and drive came on but was halted. Geraint Edmunds took it on and as he went down slipped a pass to quick thinking prop Keiron Brown and over he went for the Blues’ third try.
Prosser missed his only kick of the afternoon to make it 0-19.
Prosser and Narberth outside-half Ianto Griffiths swapped penalties in the final two minutes of thehalf and the game looked over for the home side at 3-22.
Narberth scored early in the second-half when flanker Stuart Worral took advantage of a big blindside gap to score in the corner. Ianto Griffiths converted well from the touchline and Narberth were back in the game at 10-22
Two minutes later Narberth replacement prop Ollie Evans was sin-binned for a ruck infringement and five minutes later Bargoed’s Geraint Edmunds was also sent off for ten minutes.
Narberth were camped in Bargoed’s half for long periods unable to break through the Blues’ defence.
Bargoed hooker and captain Leigh Meades got a yellow for bringing down a driving maul.
Narberth sniffed a way back and called a scrum from the penalty which the Bargoed seven repelled magnificently.
However, Narberth got to within a score of Bargoed’s lead with a 79th minute try from wing Lawrence Headlam converted by Nick Gale.
There was still time for a restart and the Bargoed supporters looked on nervously as they retained possession and cleared into touch for full-time and 17 games unbeaten.
I think it is an absolute joke of the rumours are true that the WRU are promoting 4 teams to the premiership and Bargoed are not one of them. 17 games played 17 won with 15 bonus points and the WRU want to promote the old guard Swansea Merthyr Pontypool and A N Other most probably newbridge. This is scandalous Bargoed have been in the top 3 in this league over a period of 5/6 seasons and the WRU are robbing a great footballing team of the opportunity of playing in the premiership. If this is the outcome I will be boycotting all international games, regional games as well as any away game Bargoed play!