Bargoed 10 – 13 Neath
Bargoed, Saturday September 3, 2016
Bargoed’s long-awaited debut in the Principality Premiership ultimately ended in defeat, with a last-minute penalty proving the only difference to the game, which was played in appalling conditions at Bargoed Park, with driving rain dictating the tactics.
Predictably it was a low scoring affair, with Neath taking the spoils late in the match with a 79th minute penalty from the boot of outside-half Iwan Evans.
Neath missed the opportunity to take an early lead, with two penalty attempts missing the target, while Bargoed outside-half Sam Withers made no mistake in securing the Bulls’ first Premiership points with a penalty from 35 metres. 3-0 after nine minutes.
Neath had the territorial advantage for much of the first quarter, but didn’t threaten the Bargoed line.
Nevertheless, Bargoed found it difficult to gain ground and establish field position with Neath organising well in midfield thanks to some good marshalling by scrum half Chris Morgan.
The score was levelled on 24 minutes with an easy kick for Evans, who slotted over a penalty on the 22-metre line after Bargoed infringed at a ruck.
Bargoed picked up the pace from the restart and drove at the Neath defence with prop Kieron Brown, revelling in the physicality, causing mayhem in the loose with No8 Ross Coombes.
The resilient Neath back line held out well when Bargoed started moving the ball wide, and just when it looked as if the Bulls were gaining some momentum, Neath winger Aaron Grabham popped out of the line to latch on to an interception and sprint away from the half-way line.
With winger David Evans and full-back Jordan Purcell in pursuit, Grabham was caught on the line, but did enough to touch down. Evans added the extras and Neath were ahead by seven points.
Bargoed responded well and went close from a scrum five-metres out, but were denied by a knock-on, and referee Craig Evans brought the half to a close with the home side trailing 3-10.
The second half started in similar fashion, with defences on top. Bargoed used the bench well with experienced prop Anthony Lott coming on for Rhys Morgan, and second-row Gavin McDonald making an immediate impact with an abrasive approach in both attack and defence.
Neath were reduced to 14 men with ten minutes to go when prop Geraint James was sin-binned for taking out a Bargoed player off the ball.
Bargoed piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty, which Withers punted to the Neath 22-metre area.
Unfortunately, Bargoed’s reliability at the lineout deserted them all afternoon, and the throw-in was deemed not straight.
Neath, still a man down, chose a lineout rather than risk a scrum and made the same mistake with a crooked throw-in.
Bargoed called a scrum which predictably collapsed, causing referee Evans to warn the Neath captain as Bargoed called another scrum from the penalty.
The drive came on again and Neath collapsed, making the decision an easy one for the referee, who went under the posts for a penalty try. Withers converted to make it 10-10 with five minutes left.
Bargoed held out strongly until a driving maul was brought down and Iwan Evans stepped up to put over a 79th minute penalty which was to prove the final score, with the All Blacks squeezing home by 10-13.
Bargoed Chairman Neil Carter was in reflective mood after the game.
He said: “I thought we were stronger in the scrums and lineouts, but Gareth Llewellyn has got them well organised at the breakdown and in midfield.
“We also seem to have an issue with interceptions with Neath, they scored two interceptions the last time we played them a year ago. It just goes to show that mistakes at this level are harshly punished and we will learn from this as we go forward.
“There’s some work to do before we travel to Llandovery next weekend but overall I’m pleased with our first performance – there’s a lot to build on”.
• Match report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.