Bargoed moved above RGC 1404 into the fourth-place promotion spot with a seven-try 43-13 victory over Llanharan in appalling conditions at Bargoed Park on Saturday, March 26.
The visitors took the lead with a well-struck penalty from the boot of outside-half Howard Evans, before the Blues hit back almost immediately with a catch-and-drive from a lineout, which saw hooker Leigh Meades emerge from under the bodies to claim the try. Calum Jones’ conversion was held up against the wind and driving rain.
Bargoed made it 10-3 with just nine minutes on the clock with another lineout move taking the home pack into midfield before prop Ally Gardner-Keys forced his way over.
Llanharan joined in the action with one of their own catch-and-drive mauls when prop Ryan Taylor went over. Evans added the conversion to square it at 10-10.
Bargoed’s third try completed a front row hat-trick with prop Rhys Morgan going over from another driving maul, understandable in the deteriorating conditions which saw the abandonment of Bargoed’s second team fixture against Mountain Ash on an adjacent field.
Calum Jones converted well to make it 17-10.
Evans again pegged the home side back with another penalty for Llanharan – the club struggling at the bottom of the Championship were keeping in touch.
The Blues’ fourth and bonus-point-achieving try came from yet another lineout.
The catch-and-drive was held up for once and scrum-half Matthew Hutcheon put an ambitious chip over the top of the ruck. Wing Lewis Hudd followed-up by diving, collecting and sliding for the score – all in one movement – to take the score to 22-13 at the break.
It was all one-way traffic from the start of the second half.
Replacement Bargoed wing Matthew McGovern bounced off tackles in midfield before passing to Calum Jones, the young outside-half, who did well to create space and slide over, before converting his own try.
Replacement hooker Ian Jenkins got on the scoresheet in a similar fashion to his previous incumbent, and Jones converted magnificently out of the mud from the touchline to make it 36-13.
The seventh try came in the final minute when flanker Lewis Blacker made in-roads, before the ball was recycled and enabled McGovern to smash his way over.
Jones put over his fourth conversion and referee Neil Jones ended the mud-bath with Bargoed comfortable winners at 43-13.
• Match report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.