Fixture

In a re-run of the previous week's defeat to Bedwas, Bargoed were in this game until the dying minutes. With just three minutes left on the clock the Bulls had surprised the home side trailing by just two points and remaining competitive with the game in the balance, but two late yellow cards and a penalty try in the 80th minute put a gloss on the score which the Steelmen were happy to take.

In freezing conditions at Eugene Cross Park, Ebbw Vale started in ominous fashion piling on the pressure and it looked as if Bargoed could get blown away but great defending and cool heads allowed them to weather the storm and they relieved the pressure with a penalty from stand-in outside half Greg Callow for not releasing in a tackle.

Having coped with the early intensity Bargoed fell behind to a sucker punch. A long floated pass in midfield had the away supporters shaking their heads and a repeat moments later was seized on and an interception 60 metres out was slipped inside to wing Chris Levesy to cross for the opening score after 15 minutes. Dai Langdon added the conversion and Ebbw were 7-0 up.

Bargoed second row Gavin McDonnell put in a big hit on former Scarlets number eight Rory Pitman and both players stayed down, eventually leaving the field, McDonnell with a shoulder injury and Pitman helped off limping.

Then on the half hour Callow put a penalty to within 15 metres of the Ebbw Vale line. The Steelmen nicked it but a poor clearance gave the Bulls a second bite and after driving infield the ball was released and hooker Leigh Meades slipped a pass to Dai Evans. The winger still had much to do but he cleverly spun in the tackle and finished well in the corner for an unconverted try.

The coaches would have been fuming moments later when a silly penalty at a ruck straight in front of the posts gave Dai Langdon an easy three points from just 30 metres and the score stayed at 10-5 until the break.

Bargoed seized the initiative from the start and were rewarded with a James Hallet penalty five minutes in to make it 10-8. The Bulls had been having a difficult time at the scrum but the tide turned somewhat with referee Rhys Thomas beginning to penalise the Ebbw front row much to the annoyance of the home crowd.

Ebbw Vale had several chances to extend their lead with kickable penalties but chose to chance their luck with driving lineouts but each time Bargoed drove them back or turned over possession. However, territory and possession was beginning to favour the home side and the penalty count inevitably rose as Bargoed tackled and defended to a man. Three minutes from time the referee's patience ran out and first off with a yellow card was Rhys Verney, the second row infringing at a maul. Ebbw Vale called a scrum from the penalty and drove Bargoed back but the seven held out until Alex Herbert infringed and the pack was reduced to six. There was no doubting what was to come and try as they might the Bulls couldn't resist and with the scrum going down referee Thomas went under the posts for an 80th minute penalty try which Langdon converted. The restart signalled the last move of the game and it ended 17-8.