Bargoed RFC

BARGOED RFC 2ND XV v PENALLTA RFC 18th April 2009


Bargoed, travelled to Maesycwmmer for a re-arranged Rhondda and East Glamorgan premiership league match against local rivals Penallta. The Warriors were hoping to avenge the defeat in the previous league match in September and set themselves up for Tuesday’s Keith Jones Cup Final match against Ynysybwl.

It was the visitors who made the better start and they exerted early pressure on the home side and were awarded a penalty after only four minutes which stand-off Steve James pulled just wide. The visitors continued to gain the ascendancy and were rewarded with a second penalty some eight minutes later which James pulled wide again.

With the home sides first visit into the Warriors half, they were awarded a penalty which was slotted through the uprights to give them the lead against the run of play. Just after half way through the first half, the home side were reduced to 14 men when scrum half Andre Sirocco was yellow carded for a shoulder barge. With the extra man, the visitors continued to exert pressure and a piece of sheer brilliance by the excellent Stuart Jones who found himself in midfield and spotted space on the wide outside he placed a deft chip which wing Daniel Morris chased and collected to draw the last defender and feed the scoring pass to captain Phil Smith who had worked hard to get in support and he crossed for the opening try which James duly converted to give the visitors a well deserved lead by 7 points to 3.

Bargoed were unlucky two minutes later when James was hauled down a yard from the line after some excellent mid field work by centre Adrian Thomas. However, the final points of the half belonged to the home side when they successfully converted a penalty right at the end of the half. The referee drew an end to the first half with the visitors leading by 7 points to 6.

Bargoed continued to exert pressure at the start of the second half and in a similar fashion to the first half they were awarded a penalty after three minutes which James slotted through the uprights to extend the visitors lead to four points. Some 7 minutes later Bargoed were awarded a penalty five metres into their own half and James stepped up to attempt the penalty but despite an almighty thump it fell just a yard short.

Shortly after, the visiting side were reduced to fourteen when Geraint Webb was shown yellow for a similar offence to the home sides yellow card in the first half. Despite being a man down, the visitors defence held firm and Penallta’s only scoring chance during the sin binning was a penalty which hit the left hand upright.

As the match drew to a close, the home side threw everything at Bargoed who must be commended for excellent defensive work and the match ended with the visitors winning by 10 points to 6 thus gaining revenge for the defeat earlier in the season.

Captain Phil Smith was delighted with his teams’gritty performance and commented that several of his team had staked a claim for the starting line up for the forthcoming Keith Jones Cup Final match at Rhydyfelin.