News

Bargoed Briefs

It was a mixed bag of results on the weekend with the 1st XV going down to Pontypridd in their first Community Premiership game at Sardis Road. 

The Warriors won their first game in the national leagues with a hard fought victory over Rumney Athletic in a Division 6 East Central tie. 

The Youth lost narrowly to Blackwood but again there were many positives from the performance.

The 1st XV started well against Pontypridd and scored the opening try with 18 year old centre Logan Yendle crashing over with Josh Prosser converting. 

It looked like Bargoed were about to get a second try as good work by James Leadbeater and Dylan Williams created a try scoring opportunity. Bargoed thought that they should have had a penalty try but the Referee adjudged the tackle was legal and not early on the supporting player. 

Bargoed did increase the lead when they moved the ball wide and Ashley Norton crashed over wide out with Prosser kicking the conversion to lead 14-0 after twenty minutes. 

The home side now had their first period of sustained pressure but Bargoed repelled the driving lineout that followed but Kieron Brown was penalised and yellow carded. 

A couple of minutes later Keegan Bale was penalised for side entry, he was also yellow carded and the hosts were awarded a penalty try. 

Bargoed were down to 13 men but were still working hard and starting to pressure the home sides set piece. Hooker Morgan Edwards snaffled the ball from a line-out in the Bargoed half but his kick went dead and Bargoed were back in their own half for a scrum. 

There was a free kick awarded to Pontypridd at the scrum and they reacted swiftly to move the ball wide and score a converted try to make it 14-14 at half time. 

The hosts opened the scoring early in the second half with a converted try to lead 21-14 after poor defence from Bargoed wide out. 

Pontypridd got the bonus point try five minutes later when Bargoed failed to take a high attacking kick and the hosts punished them with a converted try in the same corner. 

Bargoed worked hard to get some territory and they severely tested the home side’s defence, and it looked as though Kieron Brown had scored but the ball was held up over the line. 

Bargoed gave a couple of cheap
penalties away and Ponty kicked both to increase the lead to 34-14. 

The Bulls continued to look for an opportunity to score with ball in hand and they managed to get a foothold in the home side’s 22 with Rhys Stephens getting the third try and closing the gap.

However it was the hosts who came out on top when the Ref blew for full time and a scoreline of 34-19 that certainly flattered Pontypridd with a 4-3 try count in their favour.

Bargoed will rue a couple of missed opportunities and a few cheap penalties, along with the two yellow cards and the decision that went against them for a penalty try. 

The Coaching Staff will be pleased with the effort and the intent to play with ball in hand as both sides looked to attack in an entertaining and high tempo game.

However, Bargoed’s accuracy in attack cost them with a number of errors preventing Bargoed from scoring alongside some poor discipline. 

The Coaching and playing staff will be hurting after the first loss since November 2024 but will know that this squad has plenty of growth in it if they keep working hard and improve their accuracy and discipline. 

The Warriors had a great win against a strong Rumney side in a league game, with two tries from the impressive and hard working back rower Sean Morris. 

Ethan Lott also scored a try and promising outside half Charlie Williams kicked two conversions and four penalties in another great display from the youngster.

There were also good performances from Glenn Lucas and young hooker Joey Hall who had another excellent game & named Man of the Match 

The Youth lost narrowly away against Blackwood 24-26 scoring four tries from Rhys Davies, Cody Jones, Aidan Carter and Tyler Morgan with two conversions from 
Brayden George. 
Joint Men of the Match were Cody Rees and Tommi Shutt.