Fixture

Neath RFC | 1st Team 29 - 36 Bargoed RFC | 1st Team
Ifan Guto Phillips
Try 2
Gavin Evans
Try 1
Edd Howley
Try 1
Conversion 3
Penalty 1
David Evans
1 Try
Calum Jones
4 Try
1 Conversion
1 Penalty

Match Report
16 April 2017 / Team News

Neath 29 Bargoed 36

After a disappointing performance against Llanelli the previous week, Bargoed were looking for an opportunity to make amends but even the most optimistic of Bulls' supporters would not have forecast the outcome of this one with the home side 19-0 up after 23 minutes. All the more remarkable then that Bargoed not only came away with the win but scored five tries in the process securing a crucial bonus point.

 
Neath shot out of the blocks and clearly had a plan to blow Bargoed away with pace and intensity and that worked initially with hooker Ifan Phillips, getting a brace either side of a try by centre Gavin Evans with full back Ed Howley kicking two out of three conversions.
 
The Bulls' needed something on the board and it came courtesy of wing David Evans having been put away by skipper Leigh Meades with the extras coming from the boot of Calum Jones. However, two minutes later and the Blacks secured the bonus point with a fourth try, Ed Howley shimmying over and converting to make it 26-7. Job done or so the Neath supporters thought.
 
Evans broke through again and looked to have scored a second but was called back by referee Dewi Phillips for a knock on and Leigh Meades almost touched down chasing a kick which just got away from him. Then just before half time, Neath had a put in 5 metres from their own line and the Bargoed eight got their timing to perfection and drove them backwards taking the ball against the head with Josh Jacas claiming the score. Jones converted and Bargoed went in 26-14 down but with an air of confidence about them.
 
The Bulls started where they left off and six minutes into the second half Bryce Morgan burst through before offloading and the ball crossed the backs, centre Darren Humphries straightened and fed Calum Jones to cross. His conversion hit a post but Bargoed were in the hunt at 26-19.
 
David Evans hit the line at pace before feeding Ashley Norton for the big centre to claim Bargoed's fourth securing the bonus point on 55 minutes and Calum Jones converted to square it at 26 all.
 
Calum Jones was soon in action again with a penalty attempt which drifted wide before Ed Howley restored Neath's lead with a penalty with twelve minutes remaining to make it 29-26.
 
Bargoed switched kickers and full back Matthew Lewis put over a penalty to bring it back to 29 all with ten minutes left.
 
Neath threw everything at the Bulls but the away side kept their nerve and showed remarkable patience as they went through the phases and kept possession and it paid off with Calum Jones crossing for his second try, giving him 16 points on the day, converted by Lewis to take the score to 29-36 with five minutes remaining.
 
There was still time for the home side to break out of defence but Bargoed held their nerve despite kicking the ball dead expecting the referee to blow up, which he didn't and the Bulls' had to survive a line out on the half way. But survive it they did and this will go down as a significant away win as Bargoed now have three home games in a row with Newport, Bridgend and Cardiff all having to go to Bargoed Park and on this performance none of them will relish that prospect.
 
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