Bargoed Warriors fall to Brecon in Division 5 Cup final at Principality

Brecon Athletic claimed the Division 5 Cup following an eight-try 49-5 victory over Bargoed Warriors in the Go Compare Road to Principality 2026 series.

Full-back Jake Crockett scored 17 points with two tries, a penalty and two conversions and was one of five players involved from the Brecon senior side that won the 2019 Admiral National Plate against Bonymaen.

This time, Crockett was the star for the Athletic side who ran in seven second half tries in a convincing win at the Principality Stadium. Once again, he picked up the Man of the Match award ending with a flourish with an 80-metre interception try.

Bargoed RFC’s second XV were on the hunt to start a league and cup double as they chase the WRU Division 5 East title, but were well beaten despite a second half try from replacement Leon James.

Brecon started with intent as full-back Crockett made a break in the first minute from his own 22 and forced a penalty after a deliberate knock-on, a kick to the corner got their rolling maul into gear as hooker Josh Pritchard crossed in the third minute.

Crockett extended his side’s lead with a penalty from the ten-metre line in the 16th minute and were able to survive any Bargoed attacks during the first half – and a line break from centre Luke Ellaway at the start of the second period.

Their defence was rewarded with a try in the 49th minute when replacement Luke Price finished off a passing move in the corner before lock Wyn Davies stretched out from short distance for his team’s third try three minutes later.

Brecon continued to pose a threat as centre Tudor Roderick exposed a gap in the Bargoed defence in the 57th minute as he dummied past a defender before stepping fullback Charlie Williams to score his side’s fourth try.

Bargoed eventually got something on the scoreboard when replacement James crossed following a tap penalty from short range.

Full-back Crockett added a fifth try after Brecon halfbacks Hugh Prothero and Gareth Price used the short side from the scrum to overload the defence in the 66th minute. Scrum-half Protheroe scored a sixth try when he broke through from inside the 22, with replacement Iestyn Phillips also scoring a try in the final ten minutes.

Fittingly, Crockett had the final try scoring word as he intercepted a Bargoed pass from inside his own 22 to score from 80 metres for his second. But he left the conversion to replacement James Hellard who capped off a brilliant performance for the Division 5 East Central league leaders.

Scorers: Brecon Athletic: Try: Josh Pritchard, Luke Price, Wyn Davies, Tudor Roderick, Jake Crockett 2, Hugh Protheroe, Iestyn Phillips; Con: Jake Crockett 2, James Hellard; Pen: Jake Crockett.

Bargoed Warriors: Try: Leon James

Brecon Athletic: Jake Crockett; Owen Morgan, Tudor Roderick, Eifion Jones, Kyran Dillon; Gareth Price; Hugh Prothero; Richard Davies, Josh Pritchard, Josh Hamilton, Wyn Davies, Will Prosser (captain), Josh Millichap, Rhodri Workman, Davey Herdman
Reps: Iestyn Phillips, Calum Cillford, Darren Witcomb, Iwan Davies, Henry Morgan-Gervis, Josh Evans, James Hellard, Luke Price

Bargoed Warriors: Charlie Williams; Adam Jones, Dylan Rogers, Luke Ellaway, Brad Crossman; Ben Jones (captain), Harvey Jones; Greg Callow, Joey Hall, Aaron Elliot, Morgan Small, Owain Cooper, James Chard, Josh Michaels, Leon James
Reps: Ben Palmer, Ellis Hall, Nathan Jones, Leon James, Dawson Harris, Jake Thomas, Aaron Hughes, Christian Cuss

“A great experience”

Warriors coach Phil Osbourne said that despite the result, it was a day Bargoed RFC could be proud of.

He said: “Fifty-five minutes into the game we were in the fight and ready to go, but it unravelled a bit quickly then, a couple of 50-50 decisions went against us.

“The actual day itself was fantastic. It was a great experience for the players and I think it’s something we’ll always be proud of, as a club and as a squad. It was fantastic.”

Osbourne also praised Bargoed fans for making the match a special occasion with around six coach-loads heading to Cardiff.

Despite the cup final loss, it is promising to be an unforgettable season with the side top of the WRU Division 5 East title, looking for promotion to Division 4.

Osbourne said the push for a second successive promotion was a tribute to Bargoed’s player development with 22 out of the 23-man final squad having come through the club’s youth team.

Additional reporting by Ed Bregua.