Bargoed RFC lost 35-21 at home to Ebbw Vale in the Principality Premiership on Saturday, December 1.
Two tries from Duane Dyer were not enough for the Bulls, who slip to second from bottom in the table, eight points above bottom-placed Neath.
Ebbw Vale, who were bolstered by a number of Dragons regulars in Josh Lewis, Jack Dixon and Dafydd Howells, remain in fifth place despite their bonus-point win.
Bargoed started the game brightly and took the lead through a Josh Prosser penalty after putting early pressure on the visitors, before a Rhys Jones penalty equalised for Ebbw Vale.
Bargoed took the lead once again through a Prosser penalty after Ebbw Vale collapsed a powerful driving maul after 13 minutes.
But it was Ebbw Vale who scored the first try of the game. Dixon picked up at the breakdown and surged through to score, with Jones converting to give the away side a 10-6 lead.
Lewis Young crossed the line shortly after to increase the lead after Bargoed failed to deal with a high kick. Jones converted again, putting Ebbw Vale 17-6 up.
The deficit increased further when Bargoed conceded a controversial scrum penalty, which Jones kicked between the posts.
The hosts hit back and dominated the last ten minutes of the first half, with Ebbw Vale conceding a couple of penalties as scrum-half David Jones was sent to the sin bin.
Bargoed made the most of the advantage and recorded their first try through Duane Dyer, making it 20-11 to the steelmen at half time.
The second half saw Ebbw Vale start with 14 men, with Bargoed now on top as they retained possession and stretched the Ebbw Vale defence. The pressure was rewarded as Prosser stepped up and narrowed the deficit to 20-14 with a 40 metre penalty.
Bargoed scored again as Dyer grabbed his second try. Prosser’s conversion gave the home team a slender 21-20 lead with 13 minutes left to play.
But the lead was short lived as an Ebbw Vale attack from near their own 22 resulted in Lloyd Evans running through to score, with Jones adding yet another conversion.
Jones was on the scoreboard again, this time with a penalty to give Ebbw Vale a nine point lead.
Bargoed, now chasing the game, lost possession inside their own half and the Blaenau Gwent side punished them. Lewis crashed over the try-line in the dying moments to make the final score 35-21.
Bargoed’s next game will be at Pontypridd on Saturday, while Ebbw Vale play hosts to Cardiff Rugby.
Report by Jeremy Rogers, of Bargoed RFC.