Fixture

They say winning is a habit but it's not a habit that the Bulls have yet developed in the Premiership. This was the third time that Bargoed have gone down to a single score late in the game at home as Crosskeys were awarded a penalty try by referee Gwyn Morris with just four minutes left on the clock.

The game had started well for the home side despite former Bargoed outside half Josh Prosser putting the Keys in front with a third minute penalty. Wing David Evans seized on a ball which had spilled forward in a tackle on the 10 metre line and the speedster ran in from just inside the Bulls' half to score to make it 5-3 after 9 minutes.

Bargoed piled on the pressure and should really have gone further ahead after camping on the visitors' line but despite the intensity of the attack, Crosskeys held out and the siege was lifted when Bargoed were penalised for holding on.

Calum Jones added two penalties within five minutes of each other to take the score to 11-3 on the half hour and Bargoed were looking good for their lead before a poor box kick allowed Crosskeys back onto the front foot and the field position paid off with another Josh Prosser penalty just before the half time whistle to close the gap to 11-6.

Bargoed came out of the blocks at the start of the second half as though they meant business. Centre Darren Humphries crashed through the middle but was held up. The ball was released quickly across the backs and outside half Greg Callow put wing Duane Dyer in at the corner. Jones' conversion was unsuccessful from  the touchline and Bargoed looked good for their ten point lead just 3 minutes  into the half.

However, that was as good as it got for the home side as Crosskeys showed their experience and took a grip on the game. Bargoed couldn't get out of their half as Crosskeys pounded away and despite a straightforward penalty miss for Prosser, the possession and territorial advantage paid off with a Ieuan Jones try from short range converted by Prosser on 52 minutes, who also slotted a penalty to make it all square at 16-16 as the game entered the final quarter.

Bargoed's resistance continued and there's no doubt that the home supporters would have settled for the draw but four minutes from time, the Bargoed scrum which had been solid all game came under pressure on their own put in on the twenty-two. Crosskeys secured possession and drove for the line. Flanker Alex Herbert infringed close to the line and Gwyn Morris went under the posts for a penalty try, giving Prosser the easiest of conversions.  Herbert went to the bin and Bargoed finished the game a man down.

A desperate last 3 minutes saw Bargoed hammer away but to no avail and they had to be  content with a single losing bonus point.