Llandovery 48 – 7 Bargoed
Saturday September 10, Llandovery
Bargoed travelled to Llandovery looking for their first win in the Principality Premiership, but were blown away by an impressive display of hard running rugby by the Drovers.
Live wire full-back Lee Rees punished some slack Bargoed defence to open the score with just two minutes on the clock, and was in the thick of it minutes later with a tap-and-go penalty putting winger Mike Evans over to make it 12-0 with Jack Maynard’s conversion.
The Bulls regained some composure and narrowed the gap with a well-taken try from a lineout on the halfway line, as David Evans slipped inside to receive a pass from full-back Callum Jones and cross for the try.
Maynard slotted a penalty to extend the hosts’ lead and their third try soon followed from a scrum. Lee Rees was again the catalyst, taking the ball at pace and putting centre Craig Woodall over to make it 20-7 after 26 minutes.
Bargoed’s injury worries continued with Callum Jones and No 8 Lee Beech forced from the field, and Llandovery secured their bonus point just before half-time as Maynard scored and converted his own try.
A spate of yellow cards were shown shortly after the break, as Bargoed’s James Locke was binned for a shoulder charge off the ball. He was followed by winger Ashley Norton two minutes later, who was reprimanded for a high tackle, and Llandovery’s Shaun Miles joined them in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle soon after.
Under pressure from the extra man and one short in the back line, Bargoed were twice penalised and eventually conceded the penalty try. The Bulls emptied the bench, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide, and two late tries in the dying minutes from Miles and winger Aaron Warren took the score to 48-7.
Bargoed chairman Neil Carter said: “We were out-thought and outplayed today by a very dynamic and physical Llandovery. We have rarely come up against this level of pace and intensity but we will take it on the chin and learn from the experience. Being involved in games with this quality of rugby is why we wanted to be in the Premiership and we’ll put things right in training when we prepare for Swansea next weekend.”
• Match report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.