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10 January 2023 / Club News

Bargoed Briefs

The 1st XV and Youth were in action on the weekend, but disappointingly the Warriors game against Penallta was called off as a casualty of the weather.
 
1st XV Report
 
Bargoed travelled to Cardiff to take on Glamorgan Wanderers in their first game since November. It was extremely difficult conditions but Bargoed adapted well early on using their kicking and power game to gain the ascendancy.
 
The first try was scored after sustained scrum pressure saw Bargoed awarded a penalty try after 11 minutes.
 
The second try was scored by Duane Dyer after a well executed move that saw Rhys Thomas provide the scoring pass after some good work by the backs, to increase the lead to Bargoed 12-0 after 17 minutes.
 
Bargoed continued to dominate territory and possession and looked as though they had scored but Centre Ollie Andrews was adjudged offside.
 
The Wanderers defended well under huge pressure but they eventually conceded again after 32 minutes when scrum half James Leadbeater touched down after another dominant scrum. Jones converted and Bargoed led 19-0 going into half time.
 
The second half saw The Wanderers manage to get more possession and test the Bargoed defence.
 
Bargoed weathered the storm and managed to get a foothold in the opposition 22 and again using their scrum as an attacking weapon No. 8 Tom Rice dived over to score the bonus point try, converted by Jones, to increase the lead to 26-0 after 59 minutes.
A couple of minutes later an indiscretion saw young Centre Ollie Andrews receive a yellow card, with Bargoed down to 14.
 
The Wanderers continued to work hard in defence and looked to take advantage of the extra player, but Bargoed’s defence was resolute.
 
Bargoed used their kicking game to good effect and another scrum near the hosts line saw Leadbeater get over for his second try of the game after 70 minutes.
 
Bargoed received another yellow card with Ali Gardiner-Key leaving the field after 79 minutes for slowing play.
 
Bargoed closed the game out and will be pleased to get a bonus point 31-0 win against a dogged home side in difficult conditions.
 
Tom Rice picked up the Bargoed RFC Supporters Club Man of the Match with a hard working performance in attack and defence.
 
However the Coaches will have identified that there are plenty of work ons that they will look to tackle this week as they build into another key game on Saturday against Neath at Bargoed Park.
 
Youth XV Report
 
With the Christmas break behind us, it was back to business for the youth team as they welcomed St Julian’s / Caerleon to Bargoed Park.
 
The team and coaching staff were eager to get the game played to give the boys some much needed game time and a win would also mean that Bargoed would finish top of the first round of Dragons regional leagues.
 
With kick off fast approaching the heavens once again opened, and what was already a 50/50 call to if we would see a kick off, was now hanging in the balance.
 
The referee did a final pitch inspection and was happy to get the game underway but informed both teams that safety was paramount and he would monitor it as we progressed.
 
From the kickoff there was a fair battle in the middle third with both teams having their fair share of possession. St Julians / Caerleon where first to make use of their possession and made good ground into the Bargoed 22
 
This was a theme that went on for the first 10 minutes of play, however, every time the visitors found some footing in the Bargoed 22, Bargoed answered all the questions being asked of them with some fantastic team defence and excellent execution of their exit strategies pinning St Julians back into their half time and time again.
 
It now looked as if Bargoed had broken the spirit of St Julian’s and it was only a matter of time before they found the first score, some great work between the pack members saw abrasive second row Rhys Davies power over from close range to break the deadlock.
 
From the restart Bargoed carried on where they left off and some great rugby was played in very poor conditions.
 
Bargoed made ground towards the visitors try line and through some powerful surges the ball found its way to the Morgan Small who carried on what was started and muscled his way through multiple tacklers and used great awareness to plot down the ball over the goal line for an excellent score.
 
With it not being great conditions for kickers, Fly half Williams failed with the following conversion attempt which meant the teams went into the interval at 10-0 in favour of the home team.
 
Weather conditions were not getting any better but the second half got underway on schedule. Bargoed picked up where they left off and found their way down to the visitors redzone and through some excellent pick and drive work around the ruck prop Dan Harris drove his way over the line for a well deserved try.
 
This time Williams was able to add the extras taking the score to 17-0 in favour of Bargoed.
 
Bargoed were now dominant St and were back on the attack, making valuable metres, the ball found its way to the ever present second row Rhys Davies who showed a clean pair of heels and a real turn of pace to glide trough the wilting defence and score untouched in the corner.
The final score of the game came from Captain Corey Ireland who was fantastic all day at the lineout and showing his usual defensive prowess around the park.
 
Ireland found himself in space with the ball in hand and with an elusive charge shrugged off and evaded the visitors defensive efforts to see him go over for the last score of the game.
 
With the weather getting worse the referee had seen enough and called time on what had been a fantastic game of rugby despite the treacherous conditions.
 
We would like to thank St Julians / Caerleon for the game and giving us two very competitive games of rugby this season and we wish them the very best of success in the their next league moving forward.
 

Next week Bargoed kick off their Dragons Premiership Youth campaign at home against Machen RFC.

 

Photos from both games are on the website.

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