RUGBY UNION: Bargoed dominated almost every aspect of this rearranged Swalec Cup fixture at the Gnoll on January 16, outscoring Neath by four tries to three, only to be undone by two interceptions which led to crucial tries at the start of each half.
The Blues started well, working an overlap on the left, when Neath winger Alec Jenkins intercepted and ran 60 metres under the posts. Neath were 7-0 up with Iwan Evans’ conversion after just five minutes.
Bargoed hit back after sustained pressure with captain Leigh Meades tapping a quick penalty and feeding Lewis Protheroe, who made ground, off-loaded, looped around and took the scoring pass to open the Blues’ account. Hurley’s kick went wide.
Bargoed full-back Lee Pearson was sin-binned for impeding a tap penalty, but the side weathered the storm and looked like conceding just a penalty before a turnover deep in the Neath 22 cost them dearly.
The Blacks broke upfield with flanker Alun Jones finishing off a fine move to score under the posts to make it 17-5, with Evans’ extras, just before half-time.
There was still time for the restart and Bargoed again surged into the Neath 22 but a knock-on gave the home side an opportunity to clear.
The Bargoed pack had other ideas and disrupted the scrum, turning over possession and scrum-half Matthew Hutcheon fed Hurley and with centre Darren Humphries in support, wing Ashley Norton crossed in the corner. Another difficult conversion failed but Bargoed were back within a score at 17-10 as the half came to a close.
At the start of the second half, Bargoed were pressing, but Neath flanker Craig Price was gifted a pass and ran it in from 65 metres.
Evans was having an easy time of it with his third conversion from in front of the posts to take the score to 24-10.
It looked as though the game was up for Bargoed but again the Blues showed great character to narrow the gap with a great catch and drive from a lineout. Replacement second row Lewis Weyman coming up from under the pile of bodies to claim the try. Hurley’s conversion drifted wide but Bargoed were staying in touch at 24 – 15. Evans replied with another penalty to make it 27-15.
Bargoed piled on the pressure and Weyman was unlucky not to get his second score as the referee was unsighted as he crossed the whitewash again.
A five-metre scrum was awarded which Neath brought down and a penalty ensued. Bargoed called a scrum and this time the ball moved wide but a fracas stopped the move and Neath flanker Alun Jones and Bargoed prop Rhys Morgan were shown yellow and red cards respectively on the hour.
Bargoed camped in the Neath 22 for much of the last quarter but couldn’t quite break them down as Neath tried every trick in the book to run down the clock.
Two minutes from time, the magnificent seven drove the Neath eight back on their own feed and turned over possession. Bargoed put in and again drove the Neath pack back towards their own line and this time referee Whitehead went under the posts for a penalty try.
Replacement outside-half Niall Martin drop-kicked the conversion to make it 27-22 with two minutes left.
Neath were hanging on by the skin of their teeth and Bargoed hammered away, but it wasn’t to be and the game ended in a narrow home win.
• Report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.