Bargoed capped a magnificent Championship winning season by retaining the Worthington Mid District Cup, outscoring Merthyr by five tries to three at Sardis Road on May 21.
The Blues have now appeared in five Mid District Cup Finals in the last six years winning it on three occasions although this was their first success at Sardis Road.
Bargoed’s pack set the tone after just five minutes with a strong drive from a close range scrum and number eight Ross Coombes dropping on the ball for the first score. Josh Prosser added the extras.
Captain and hooker Leigh Meades doubled the score with a dart from a ruck ten minutes later with Prosser again slotting the conversion. Merthyr hit back somewhat against the run of play, Daniel Parry with a chip and chase from full back taking advantage of a defensive slip and kind bounce to make it 14-7 with his own conversion.
Prosser added two penalties separated by Aaron Howard running in Merthyr’s second try to end the half 20-10.
Parry added a penalty at the start of the second half before the Bargoed eight demolished a scrum on a Merthyr feed with flanker Adam Coupe making the touchdown. Prosser again adding the extras to take the score to 27-13.
Successive penalties on the Merthyr line saw referee Owain Griffiths’ patience tested and a penalty try soon came, Prosser putting over his fourth conversion as the game entered the final quarter.
Merthyr’s Tom Daley got a yellow card after a general warning to the Merthyr captain about persistent infringements and Bargoed took full advantage with another pushover try and a second try of the night for Ross Coombes.
Merthyr ended the match running in the final score, Sam Evans rounding off a move which capitalised on a loose kick out of defence. Parry converted but Bargoed celebrated a comfortable 39-20 win.