Fixture

Aberavon RFC | 1st Team 45 - 25 Bargoed RFC | 1st Team
Richard Stephen Carter
Try 2
Joseph Thomas
Try 1
Will Price
Try 1
Stefan Andrews
Try 2
James Ratti
Try 1
James Garland
Conversion 3
Steffen Williams
Conversion 2
Ashley Norton
1 Try
Lewis Hudd
1 Try
Jack Williams
1 Try
Calum Jones
2 Conversion
2 Penalty

Match Report
26 September 2016 / Team News

Principality Premiership: Aberavon 45 Bargoed 25

Bargoed travelled to Premiership pacesetters Aberavon knowing that they would need to be on top of their game to get anything out of the match. With 10 minutes left on the clock, the Wizards only led by 6 points and the Bulls were looking for an upset but inevitably, experience and depth of squad showed and the home side pulled away with two late tries.

The opening try was a rather soft affair, lock Adam Beard being the beneficiary of a chargedown from a kick at a lineout for an unconverted try after 13 minutes.

The swirling wind made kicking unpredictable for both sides and it was looking ominous for Bargoed when centre Richard Carter crossed to make it 12-0 with James Garland 's conversion.

However, the Bulls were sticking to their task and opened their account with a well taken try from centre Ashley Norton. Strong running from wing David Evans set up a ruck on the half way, hooker Leigh Meades fed Norton who outpaced the cover defence to score from fifty metres.Callum Jones' conversion drifted wide against the wind but Bargoed were back in it at 12-5 after 24 minutes.

The Wizards restored their lead just minutes later following a tap and go penalty from Will Price which caught the Bargoed defence napping to make it 19-5 with Garland 's second conversion.

The home side's nerves began to angle with just 3 minutes of the half left when Bargoed stole an Aberavon lineout ball. Second row James Locke drove it on supported by Adam Coupe, Callum Jones had a go at unlocking the defence but was held and quickly recycled ball got to Lewis Hudd for the winger to cross for a try converted by Jones to make it 19-12.

Bargoed would have been happy to have gone into the break just seven points adrift but  Aberavon showed why they are top of the league and Richard Carter made it a brace finishing off a fine move to end the half 26-12 with Garland 's conversion.

Try scorer Ashley Norton didn't reappear following a knock in the first half and was replaced by Luke Smalley.

Five minutes into the half and Bargoed closed the gap once more. A break up the left hand touchline set Callum Jones off with Smalley offering a straightening burst, he was held up short of the line and the ball was popped up to prop Jac Williams coming at pace to cross for Bargoed's third. Jones converted and the Bulls were coming back into it at 25-19.

The Aberavon supporters were getting restless and matters weren't helped by referee Adam Jones showing a yellow card to flanker Luke Joseph on 47 minutes for a ruck infringement.

Calum Jones kicked the resulting penalty and added another when Smalley put in a crashing tackle spilling the ball forward with an Aberavon player picking up in front - 26-25 with 57 minutes gone.

Bargoed continued to defend well against some pretty impressive attacking play from the Wizards with pacy backs and offloading forwards showing why they are early Premiership title  contenders. Again the home side edged away with Steff Andrews stealing up the blind side to make it 31-25 on the hour.

Bargoed were still in the game with 10 minutes to go with fine performances from second rows Bryce Morgan and James Lock and number eight Lee Beach, later named the Bulls' man of the match.

However, Joe Thomas put any thoughts of an upset to bed with a well taken try with Steff Williams converting to take the score to 38-25.

Bargoed knew that they could still nick a bonus point for a fourth try and a second bonus point for finishing with seven points if they added a conversion so they went all out for it but they were playing from deep and coughed up possession. An Aberavon lineout was well organised into a driving maul and as it approached  the Bargoed line it was brought down with number eight Lee Beach being singled out for a yellow card as the clock went red.

The wizards took advantage of the weakened Bargoed pack and called a scrum five metres out. Bargoed defended well, turned over possession and were awarded a penalty. Instead of ending the game by kicking into touch, Bargoed tapped and went but it's always risky chasing the points and so it proved with Steff Andrews seizing on a loose pass and crossing for his second. Williams converted and the game ended 45-25.

Players
Gallery

There doesn't appear to be any tagged photos.

Upload and Tag Photos