https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPjb0t7FqHE&feature=youtu.be
Bargoed travelled to Cardiff to face Glamorgan Wanderers at the Memorial Ground in Ely, and came away with a bonus point 32-16 victory.
The visitors started well and applied huge pressure on the Wanderers through their powerful set piece. Adam Powell got the first try after a pick and drive effort, converted by Steffan Jones.
They continued to press and missed a couple of try scoring opportunities before Jones kicked a penalty to lead 10-0 after 20 minutes.
Bargoed dominated territory and possession but couldn’t add to their lead through a lack of accuracy and dogged defence from the home side.
The Wanderers managed to break out with a couple of searing runs from their backs and they narrowed the lead when Paul Short kicked a penalty to make it 10-3 with 28 minutes gone.
Bargoed again tried to use their forwards from close range but lost the ball at a driving line-out. Both sides then exchanged penalties before half time to make it 13-6 at the break.
Bargoed continued to hammer away at the Wanderers line in the second half, but lost the ball close to the line again, and it looked as if this would be a frustrating day.
However they steadied the ship and got two tries in ten minutes both from hooker Rhys Buckley from driving line-outs and with Jones converting one they led 25-6 with 59 minutes gone.
Bargoed were now in the driving seat and a great short pass from Darren Humphries and a good line from his brother saw Rhys Humphries run in from 35 metres for the bonus point try, converted by Jones to make it 32-6.
However the home side were far from finished and managed to score two tries in the last 9 minutes through Will Adams-Jones and James Loxton, to make the final score 32-16.
Bargoed’s coaching team will be pleased with certain aspects of this game, particularly the set piece and contact area.
However they will be concerned that were not clinical enough in attack and didn’t convert pressure into points early on. They will also be disappointed to concede two late tries.
Credit to Glamorgan Wanderers though who battled hard throughout. Bargoed expected a battle and that was exactly what they got, in what was always going to be a tough encounter.
Bargoed now move up to fourth in the National Championship with this bonus point victory, and this league is certainly very competitive with no easy games. Next week will be another tough challenge as old foes Tata Steel travel to Bargoed Park.
