Bargoed were beaten 55-28 by Pontypridd in their penultimate Principality Premiership game of the season on Saturday, May 4.
With relegation already confirmed, the Bulls were playing for pride as they welcomed the fourth-placed side to Bargoed Park.
On a sunny, but windy afternoon, Pontypridd had the wind at their backs in the first half.
Bargoed defended well in the opening minutes of the game but couldn’t stop the visitors from opening the scoring in the 13th minute.
Morgan Sienawski’s try, followed by a conversion from former-Wales international Ceri Sweeney, gave Pontypridd a 7-0 lead.
Bargoed soon hit back but Jordan Howells was denied a try when the referee pulled the Bulls back for a knock on.
But minutes later, Howells did eventually score. Josh Prosser’s conversion went over the posts to level the scores.
Pontypridd retook the lead after 22 minutes when Alex Webber scored a try in the corner. Sweeney converted to give the Sardis Road outfit a 14-7 lead.
But Bargoed equalised before half-time when outside-half Julian Mogg broke through the Pontypridd defence to score. Prosser converted and the sides went into the break at 14-14.
The second half got underway but Bargoed failed to build on a positive first half performance.
The Bulls conceded a number of penalties and lost field position before Sweeney broke past the defence to put Pontypridd in the lead. Sweeney converted his own try to give the visitors’ a seven-point advantage.
Pontypridd scored their fourth try straight from the kick-off, with Dane Blacker crossing the line and Sweeney converting.
But despite securing a bonus point, Pontypridd didn’t slow down. Tries from Kieron Assiratti, Webber and Sienawski meant Bargoed found themselves 43-14 down.
Pontypridd scored their eighth try when Sion Edwards pounced upon a handling error to run in from 40 yards. Sweeney’s conversion saw Pontypridd break the 50-point barrier with 14 minutes left.
Bargoed managed to make use of some possession and pulled a try back when Lewys Lippiett scored from a driving maul.
Prosser’s conversion cut the deficit to 50-21.
But Pontypridd were next on the scoresheet. Webber completed his hat-trick when a handling error led to him running in for a try.
But Bargoed kept on battling and after a period of pressure, replacement Keegan Bale scored the Bulls’ fourth try to get a bonus point out of the game.
Prosser’s conversion meant the game finished 55-28 to Pontypridd.
Bargoed will play their final game of the season at home to Cardiff on Saturday, May 11.