PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP

BARGOED .................... 17 NEWPORT .................... 16

BARGOED signed off the first half of the season with a three tries to one victory over the Black and Ambers as the Premiership splits into two with the formation of two conferences of eight.

Both teams will be in the lower half of the Premiership and on this showing Newport will not relish meeting the Bulls again soon.

The closeness of the final score flattered the away side as Bargoed created second quarter momentum following an opening 20-minute spell which saw both defences very much on top and the game played out between the 22s – Newport in front courtesy of a Matt O’Brien penalty after six minutes.

The game sprang into life just before the half hour with Bargoed prop Keiron Brown going close before a stunning break by Darren Humphries looked to put wing Ashley Norton away but he couldn’t hold on to the pass.

He made amends moments later, taking a high kick from full back James Hallet and putting fellow wing Dai Evans away.

Evans was held up and the cavalry arrived with flanker Lewis Weyman going over from short range. Hallet converted superbly from the touchline to make it 7-3 and that’s the way it stayed until half-time.

Newport started the second half as if they meant business with a magnificent break through midfield. Norton hunted his opposite number down with Dai Evans forcing the attacker wide by cutting down the angle and between them they produced a try-saving turnover.

Bargoed lost outside half Julian Mogg to injury and Hallet moved to 10 with Norton filling in at full back.

Newport’s Rhodri Jones was shown a yellow card by referee Gwyn Morris for a punch on 50 minutes and Morris evened it up six minutes later with a yellow for Bargoed flanker Adam Coupe for a reckless tackle.

O’Brien kicked the resulting penalty to narrow the gap to just a point and edged the Black and Ambers further ahead on the hour with another penalty to make it 7-9.

The Bulls were still a man down when they took the lead.

Darren Humphries seized on a chargedown and superbly fed second row James Locke, the ball was quickly recycled and Dai Evans finished well to put Bargoed 12-9 up with 64 minutes gone.

The Newport scrum was under pressure just inside their half and No 8 Rhys Jenkins managed to get the ball away but aggressive midfield tackling again saw the ball fall to Humphries who fed Dai Evans for his second try. Hallet again kicked well from the touchline but hit the upright – 17-9 to the Bulls with seven minutes left.

The visitors threw the kitchen sink at the Bargoed line but the Bulls held out and cleared to the half way.

A silly penalty allowed Newport to gain field position and this time they made it pay with flanker Rhodri Jones going over and O’Brien adding the extras.

There was still time for a restart and with the Black and Ambers chasing an unlikely win, it made for a tense finish but Bargoed held out and the game finished 17-16.