BARGOED CLIP RAVENS’ WINGS

Bargoed give Bridgend the Boxing Day blues

BARGOED backed up their recent Foster’s Challenge Cup wins over Pontypridd and Merthyr with a Boxing Day Principality Premiership victory over Bridgend at Bargoed Park.

The Bulls put in a fine second-half display following a largely sterile first half which saw wellorganised defences cancelling each other out and it was only the boot of Bridgend centre Joe Scrivens that separated the sides with the Ravens 0-3 up at the break, courtesy of a penalty on the halfhour.

However, both sides had try-scoring chances in the opening minutes and Bargoed were unfortunate not to have crossed the whitewash at least twice, first with a typical burst by Leigh Meades from a ruck just inside the Bridgend half. The hooker made 25m before offloading to scrum half James Pizey who slipped a pass to centre Lewis Protheroe but he was held up on the line and Bridgend cleared. Then, referee Dewi Phillips denied Pizey when he intercepted a pass from his opposite number at a scrum on the half way. Pizey was away and clear but Phillips had adjudged the scrum half offside and called him back for a penalty to Bridgend.

Scrivens extended Bridgend’s lead two minutes into the second half with another penalty to make it 0-6. Both sides began to play a more expansive game and it was the home side who benefitted most with a commanding performance at the breakdown and a watertight defence. Both coaching teams began to make changes about 15 minutes into the half with Bargoed’s bench looking the stronger and it was replacement No 8 Ross Coombes with a clean take at a lineout midway between the halfway and the Bridgend 22 who initiated Bargoed’s first try on 55 minutes. Wing Ashley Norton charged on to flat pass from replacement scrum half Matt Bancroft to set up centre Lewis Protheroe to cross just right of the posts. Full back Calum Jones converted and the Bulls were in front at 7-6.

Both teams missed kickable penalties and the narrow scoreline made for a tense finish but the home side held their nerve and piled on the pressure down the right wing with Darren Humphries, Coombes and wing Duane Dyer hammering away at the corner flag, eventually being driven into touch. Bridgend had a defensive lineout but the hooker delayed the throw-in and Dewi Phillips awarded a free kick. The front row, all off the bench, were chomping at the bit and a scrum was called 5m out. The drive came on and the Bridgend eight were shunted over the line and broke up, the Bulls continued the drive with referee Phillips playing a penalty advantage but it wasn’t required as Ross Combes dropped on the ball to claim the score. Calum Jones converted and Bargoed were clear at 14-6 with just six minutes left.

There was still time for the Ravens to secure a losing bonus point with a late kickable penalty but they kicked to touch in the corner and Bargoed kept them at bay to secure a second and much deserved Premiership victory.

Bargoed chairman Neil Carter was delighted with the result. He said: “This means a great deal to us – we’ve been under the cosh in the league with close results just not going our way. The players and coaches have been very hard on themselves but we’ve kept faith with what we are trying to achieve and today our game management in the final quarter and the strength of our bench paid dividends. Our seasoned players and young prospects like scrum half Matt Bancroft put in a big shift and the game saw debuts for Julian Mogg at outside half, Luke Dyckhoff in the second row and Josh Jacas as a second half replacement so we’ve got a great second half of the season to look forward to.”