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Bargoed 24-8 Ystrad Rhondda, Mid District Cup Final – May 18

Bargoed got their hands on another piece of silverware as they brought the curtain down on a successful season by beating Ystrad Rhondda at Sardis Road to win the Worthington’s Mid District Cup. 

Centre Steff Jones was at the double with scrum-half James Leadbeater also going over for National Championship champions Bargoed. It helped secure their second trophy of a season that also saw them reach the WRU Championship Cup final, before ultimately losing out to Neath at the Principality Stadium.

Ystrad Rhondda inflicted Bargoed’s only league defeat of the season when the sides met at Gelligaled Park last month but, despite it being an occasion played on an evening of torrential rain in Pontypridd, lightning never looked likely to strike twice. 

“All credit has got to go to the coaches and the players who have done a fantastic job this year,” said Bargoed director of rugby Jeremy Rogers. 

“We all know it’s been a difficult and very long season, we started training back in May last year so it’s 12 months really for us. 

“Ystrad Rhondda are a really well organised side, they are well coached and have got some key players. They did a job on us up in Ystrad Rhondda and I think the boys were certainly pretty focussed on getting the result and righting the wrongs of the game up there.” 

Jones split the posts early on and then converted Leadbeater’s try. 

Outside half Jacob Symes hit back with a penalty for Ystrad Rhondda but an interception try extended Bargoed’s lead before the break, with Jones running 60 metres to score before adding the extras to make it 17-3 at the turnaround. 

Jones was over again in the early stages of the second half but Ystrad Rhondda never gave up and as well as preventing Bargoed from scoring again, their hard work was eventually rewarded with a consolation try through replacement Callum Phillips. 

Bargoed’s players will now enjoy some well-earned time off ahead of returning to prepare for another crack at the Championship next season amid uncertainty about exactly how the promotion and relegation picture to and from the Premiership will look. 

“It’s about focussing on us and controlling what we can control because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Rogers. 

“We obviously want to win the Championship again next year so I think it’s just about focussing on our own game and us trying to do the right thing. 

“It’s really important we get the planning and preparation right for next season; I think we got it right this year in terms of the way we’ve lasted the course, but it’s a different challenge next year.” 

Scorers: 

Bargoed: Tries: J Leadbeater; S Jones (2); Cons: S Jones (3); Pen: S Jones 

Ystrad Rhondda: Try: C Phillips; Pen: J Symes