Bargoed 10-29 Pontypridd
Saturday, September 23, Bargoed Park
Bargoed put in a huge defensive shift but the strength of Pontypridd shone through as they scored four tries in victory at Bargoed Park.
Ponty came out of the blocks brimming with confidence following their demolition of Merthyr, and played with pace, power and width which Bargoed did brilliantly to stifle for large parts of the match.
Diggy Bird, the visitors’ outside-half, put over a 40-metre penalty to take an early lead, before Bargoed went close themselves.
Having been under the cosh for much of the first quarter, centre Jordan Howells came close to scoring after a searing run by winger David Evans. His deftly-weighted grubber kick was collected by Howells, but he gathered just short of the line. Despite the ball being recycled, the Bulls were penalised for a tackle without the ball, and Ponty cleared their lines.
Minutes later, the visitors punished Bargoed for not taking their opportunities, as winger Alex Webber put full-back Lloyd Rowlands over in the corner. Bird converted well from the touchline to make it 0-10 after 23 minutes.
Bargoed returned to defensive duty and held out until three minutes from the break when Rhys Shellard scored Ponty’s second to make it 0-17 at half-time with Bird’s conversion.
The Bulls looked more composed in the second-half and benefitted from a deceptively strong breeze but still couldn’t get on the scoreboard and the experienced Ceri Sweeney, on as a sub, scored Ponty’s third with virtually his first touch.
At the hour mark, Bargoed were 0-24 down, and it got worse shortly after, as the impressive winger, Alex Webber, went over for another five points.
Bargoed stuck to their task and were rewarded when a Howells interception from half-way finally got the Bulls on the scoresheet.
A Darren Humphries chargedown shortly after was unfortunate not to reap further rewards.
Bargoed’s second try came from a Calum Jones penalty to the Pontypridd 22-metre area.
A clean catch-and-drive lineout looked to have had enough momentum to cross the line but referee Dewi Phillips signalled a penalty advantage as the maul was stopped illegally.
Bargoed played on with winger David Evans finishing off the move at the corner flag.
The conversion went wide from the touchline, but referee Phillips wasn’t finished and binned Ponty lock Sean Moore for bringing down the maul. That was the final score of the game Pontypridd celebrated a 10-29 victory.
• Match report by Peter Greening of Bargoed RFC.