Bargoed Warriors hosted Cardiff Met RFC in a clash of two unbeaten sides in the 2nd XV National Conference. The home side were missing a number of regulars and fielded a very young starting line up that included ten players under 21 including three current youth team players Luke Cusack, Ieuan Morgan and Dan Aherne, who all acquitted themselves well.
The Met had the better of the early stages and capitalised on a couple of missed tackles to get a 12-0 lead. Bargoed bounced back and started to play some excellent stuff with Lawson Perry, Adam Rees, Jason James and Luke Cusack prominent in attack.
They applied great pressure and went close to scoring on a try on a number of occasions but pulled the game back to 12-9 through the accuracy of James Hallett’s boot kicking three penalties.
The game looked to be swinging Bargoed’s way but it was Cardiff Met who pinched it with a 20-15 victory in controversial circumstances as Bargoed looked to have pinched it late on.
This was an excellent advert for 2nd XV rugby with both sides playing with an expansive and exciting style. Bargoed can take heart from this defeat and now look forward to the build up for their big WRU Bowl fixture against Trinant next week.
Bargoed Youth lost out 34-12 against a pacy Merthyr outfit, but this young side can also take some positives from this game, as they continue to work hard as a squad.
