Bargoed 25-9 Cross Keys
Saturday, November 4, Bargoed Park
A disappointing second-half performance saw Bargoed replace Cross Keys at the bottom of the Principality Premiership East table as they slipped to another defeat.
Keys avenged their home loss in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but Bargoed have racked up six losses and just one win since that match on September 2.
Former Bargoed outside-half Josh Prosser put the visitors ahead with a 12th minute penalty, before opposite number Iain Smerdon replied to make it 3-3 with a quarter of an hour gone.
The Bulls played attractive rugby with both backs and forwards handling well. Despite enjoying territorial advantage for much of the first period, the Keys defence held out until Smerdon slotted another two penalties for a six-point advantage.
However, that was as good as it got for the home side and the tide turned just before half-time when Cross Keys’ openside flanker Taine Basham latched onto an waylaid Bargoed offload as they attempted to run the ball out of their own 22-metre area instead of kicking it away. Prosser converted to put his side 9-10 ahead at the break.
The visitors looked fired up from the start of the second-half, and denied Bargoed any territory or possession from the outset.
Referee Adam Jones had already warned both sides about ruck infringements and Bargoed second-row Matthew Thomas was sent to the sin-bin for his actions.
Prosser extended the lead from the resultant penalty to make it 9-13.
Cross Keys’ winger Matthew Powell took full advantage of the extra man to score in the corner on 58 minutes, and they wrapped it up through a Joe Goodchild try.
Prosser missed the first and converted the latter to give Keys a comfortable margin with ten minutes to go.
Bargoed enjoyed their best spell of the second half as the clock wound down but couldn’t break down a resolute defence, as the game ended 9-25.
• Match report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.