Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Bargoed 22-10 Pontypool, WRU National Championship

Bargoed extended their lead at the top of the table after a hard-fought victory over Pontypool on Saturday, April 2.

Playing out of a packed Bargoed Park, it was the visitors who started on the front foot. Ashley Sweet scored the opening try from a driving maul. Matthew Jarvis converted the extras. 

Bargoed responded well and after they pushed Pontypool off their own scrum ball in the 22 and Darren Humphries cleverly offloaded out of the tackle for Josh Prosser to score a try, which was converted by Steffan Jones to make it 7-7.

Pontypool took advantage of poor discipline to get a penalty and Jarvis kicked it for the visitors to lead 10-7 after a busy opening ten minutes. 

The second Bargoed try was scored after 19 minutes when scrum-half James Leadbeater threw a pin-point pass to put Dylan Williams into a 2v1 – which he executed superbly for Steffan Thomas to run in. Jones converted to give Bargoed a 14-10 lead.

Pontypool conceded a penalty before the interval, which was scored by Jones to give Bargoed a 17-10 lead at the break.

The second half saw Bargoed continue to play well and have the upper hand in both attack and defence. 

Their reward came soon after the restart when James Leadbeater broke up a Pontypool scrum, dummied past tacklers and ran it in from 40 metres. Jones missed the conversion but Bargoed were firmly in command at 22-10.

Louis Blacker replaced Geraint Edmonds and on 58 minutes there was an altercation, with Blacker and Pontypool prop Scott Evans shown yellow cards. However, this was changed to red when both started fighting as they walked off the field. 

Bargoed had a couple of scrums and lineouts close to the visitor’s line and were chasing the bonus point, but they failed to convert this pressure into points. 

Pontypool had a rare outing into Bargoed’s 22 late on, but the home side defended superbly and turned the ball over for Prosser to kick the ball out and secure the win for Bargoed.

Bargoed return to action on Saturday, April 16 at Bargoed Park when they travel to face Ystrad Rhondda in the WRU National Championship. Kick off is 2.30pm.