Wing Lee Pearson scored a hat-trick in an entertaining encounter as Bargoed extended their unbeaten run to 16 in the Swalec Championship with a 33-22 victory over Glynneath on the new 4G pitch in Ystrad Mynach on February 28.
Glynneath came out of the blocks full of intent and were on the scoreboard after seven minutes when Jordan Griffiths crossed and Josh O’Reilly added the extras.
Bargoed levelled it just five minutes later when Josh Prosser and Darren Humphries exchanged passes, before Prosser put Lee Pearson away to score under the posts.
Prosser converted only for O’Reilly to put the visitors back in front from a penalty just after the restart.
The ebb and flow continued before Bargoed finally asserted themselves with two tries in quick succession ten minutes before half-time.
Flanker Leigh Meades burst through a tackle and looked to be going all the way but was stopped short, turned and popped up a pass to scrum-half Huw Rees to go over under the posts.
Two minutes later Meades was in action again, with a quick tap penalty putting Protheroe through to kick and chase.
Centre Phil Price tapped it on, gathered well and went over for the Blues’ third try.
Prosser again added the extras and Bargoed were in front by 21-10.
Bargoed’s Geraint Edmunds was shown a yellow card on 39 minutes by referee Morgan Whitehead and Glynneath piled on the pressure but Bargoed held out magnificently to take the 11 point lead into the break.
The Blues went further ahead seven minutes into the second half when Pearson scored in the corner to claim a bonus point.
Bargoed prop Keiron Brown got Bargoed’s second yellow of the game on 55 minutes for not retreating ten metres and Glynneath took full advantage with number eight Stuart Leach going over to make it 26-15.
Bargoed increased the margin with a peach of a try for Pearson’s hat-trick, but Glynneath were not finished and referee Whitehead incurred the wrath of the home supporters, controversially penalising centre Darren Humphries for being in front of the kicker when he looked certain to score.
Glynneath took it quickly and hooker Craig Tennant went over from short range but it wasn’t enough to effect the result.