Fixture

Bargoed welcomed fellow Premiership strugglers Neath RFC to Bargoed Park with superb conditions and a glorious day for running rugby.

Bargoed made a late change with James Locke pulling out, Adam Powell stepping into the second row and Matt Thomas coming onto the bench. 

Bargoed started well and should have been two scores up in the first 15 minutes but a lack of accuracy with the final pass cost them. They did however open their account after 21 minutes when Josh Prosser scored and converted his own try to lead 7-0.

Neath bounced back and went on the offensive themselves but Bargoed’s defence remained intact. Bargoed increased the lead when impressive wing Ashley Norton made a great run down the left wing attracting a lot of defenders and when the ball was recycled Callum Jones profited with a try after 26 minutes.

Neath were under pressure at the set piece with Bargoed dominant at scrum time, and their line-out defence was excellent with a number of steals.

Bargoed’s third try came after a series of scrums close to the Neath line, and with their scrum under pressure, Referee Simon Mills awarded Bargoed a penalty try.

A couple of minutes later it looked like Bargoed had bagged a bonus point try from Duane Dyer but it was grounded just short so the Bulls went in 19-0 up at half time.

Bargoed started the second half well and good scrum pressure saw Neath concede a penalty. Josh Prosser just missed with the kick from over 40 metres.

However within the first 10 minutes of the second half they did increase their lead considerably, as first Duane Dyer scored and Prosser converted, and then Barney Nightingale deservedly got the fifth try after good work by Ashley Norton to make it 31-0.

Neath fought back and scored two tries in ten minutes with a driving line-out, and then after Bargoed coughed the ball up the Welsh All Blacks moved the ball and No. 8 Guido Volpi got they try with Callum Hall converting both to make it 31-14. 

Bargoed were in no mood to let their opponents back into the game and after another dominant scrum they moved the ball wide through Mogg and Humphries, with Grant Rogers in support to take the inside pass and score under the posts, Prosser converted.

They increased their lead even further a couple of minutes later when they forced a turnover and after good work by Rogers and Gardiner-Key, lock Geraint Edmunds crashed over to make it 43-14.

Bargoed made a host of changes and it was good to see Matthew  Thomas back in 1st XV colours after a long time out with injury.

Bargoed scored again on 71 minutes with another scrum penalty try, and their final try came from an excellent kick and chase from Josh Prosser on 75 minutes.

Neath continued to fight until the death and launched a couple of late attacks but Bargoed defended stoically in the last couple of minutes not to concede and came out on top 55-14.

They now look forward to another crucial game next week at home against Swansea, as they continue their fight to remain in the Premiership.