Llandovery 27-5 Bargoed
Saturday February 18, Llandovery
The record book will suggest a comfortable win for Llandovery RFC, but the WRU National Cup holders found it anything but comfortable as Bargoed had the better of them in key phases of the the home side’s 27-5 victory.
The difference was clinical finishing with the Llandovery’s backs taking the few opportunities that came their way while Bargoed could not convert their set piece and second half territorial superiority into points, not helped either by two second half yellow cards.
The Drovers took an early lead through a James Davies penalty, before Alex Herbert registered a try for the Blues.
A driving maul from a line-out ten metres out was stopped illegally, and referee Simon Mills played advantage as the forwards drove infield. The penalty came and hooker Leigh Meades tapped and went, Bryce Morgan was held up but flanker Alex Herbert was on hand to cross in the corner to make it 3-5 after 14 minutes.
Llandovery hit back with a try almost immediately, as 16-year-old wing Corey Baldwin finished well with Davies adding the extras to take the score to 10-5. Bargoed had a kickable penalty to close the gap but chose not to kick against the stiff breeze and went to the corner to try their luck at the lineout, but referee Mills penalised them and the home side cleared.
Half-time approached, and a lapse in midfield coughed up possession and two passes was all it took for winger Aaron Warren to find himself cruising across the line and round under the posts. Davies converted and the Bargoed supporters were left scratching their heads at the 17-5 half-time scoreboard.
The Blues had much the better of the third quarter but crucially couldn’t register any points. Matters got worse with a yellow card for wing David Evans for talking back to the referee, but to their credit, Bargoed dug in and the Drovers didn’t score a point while he was off.
However, Bargoed replacement second-row Lee Beech was also yellow carded on 73 minutes for not releasing in the tackle, with replacement outside-half Jack Maynard putting over the resulting penalty to extend the lead to 20-5.
With two minutes left, the home side were awarded a penalty just inside the Bargoed half and with Maynard shaping to kick to touch, he spotted a gap, tapped and went, and centre Richard Smith was on hand to finish it off. Maynard converted and the game ended 27-5.
• Match report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.