Bargoed won their last Swalec Championship match of the season 31-0 against RGC on May 9.
Former Blues coach Phil Davies and ex-Wales scrum half Rupert Moon paid champions Bargoed the highest compliment by picking the strongest side available for RGC’s trip to Bargoed Park.
However, the North Wales regional side proved no match for the power of Bargoed’s forwards or the well organised Blues’ defence and clinical finishing, as the home side ran in five unanswered tries.
Bargoed finished the league season in style and ended with an amazing 124 points from a maximum available 130 points winning 25 out of 26 games.
But,this was no walkover. It was clear from the outset that it would be a highly physical encounter and referee Steve Nash had his work cut out.
Bargoed opened the scoring after just seven minutes. Lewis Protheroe punched a hole through the centre and Darren Humphries took the ball at pace and on a great angle sliced through the midfield with full back Lee Pearson in support. Pearson looped a pass to wing Luke Smalley and over he went. Josh Prosser,playing his last game before joining Crosskeys, slotted the extras.
It was all Bargoed in the opening quarter and they were denied a try when Smalley went over but was held up before the first of three yellow cards in the game went to Bargoed’s Pearson for retaliating to a punch thrown in a ruck.
Bargoed stuck to their task despite being a man down and went further ahead on 25 minutes. Bargoed hooker Leigh Meades turned over RGC ball at a ruck, lock Darren Lynch took it on and quick ball across the backs saw Gareth Dare cross in the corner. Prosser again added the conversion to take the score to 14-0.
The home side’s third try was one for the back row union – Coombes broke from the base of a scrum on the half way, openside Grant Rogers made a Tipuric-like break and blindside flanker Adam Coupe appeared on his shoulder to take the scoring pass. Prosser uncharacteristcally missed the conversion but Bargoed were 19-0 up and Pearson rejoined the game having seen his side score 12 points when they were down to fourteen.
The bonus point try came just before the break when RGC, struggling to cope with the Bargoed front five, gave away two penalties as Bargoed turned the screw by calling successive scrums. The third penalty saw Meades call another scrum and this time as the RGC pack crumbled, the referee went straight under the posts for a penalty try. Prosser added the conversion and to add to the North Walians’ woes referee Nash showed prop Leon Crump a yellow card for persistent scrum infringements which was probably harsh as he was clearly struggling against the very promising Bargoed prop Jac Williams. 26-0 at the break.
The physicality increased from the start of the second half and very soon RGC were temporarily down to thirteen with captain Kelvin Davies yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Bargoed centre Darren Humphries.
Bargoed piled on the pressure and Prosser put a slid rule kick to five metres, hooker Meades threw to Geraint Edmunds at the front of the lineout and the big second row went over for Bargoed’s fifth try.
Prosser’s conversion was pulled across the front of the posts and he was treated to a standing ovation from the Bargoed supporters – along with a busload from Aberaeron RFC who sponsored the game in recognition of the support every year from Bargoed for the Aberaeron Sevens.
RGC tried everything to get into the game but had no answer to Bargoed’s resilience in defence. Frustration crept in as the clock wound down and RGC captain and number eight Kelvin Davies found referee Steve Nash’s patience at breaking point, clashing with Bargoed scrum half James Pizey and getting a straight red card to go with the yellow he had received earlier in the game.
Bargoed’s controlled the final minutes and ran out winners 31-0.
Bargoed chairman reflected on a remarkable season.
Neil Carter said: “We could not have hoped for a better season, the players and coaches have done Bargoed proud and I would like the whole community, businesses and local authority to join us in recognising what the club has done to put Bargoed on the map.
“We still have a Mid District cup final to play against Merthyr at Sardis Road on May 20 and then we’ll have a short rest before preparing for next season and not just the first fifteen either – we are very proud of the junior teams at all ages, the youth, ladies and second fifteen and they are vital to the future of the club.”