Evans at the double to land Bulls a third victory

LOWLY Bargoed picked up just their third victory of the season to move off the bottom of the Premiership table after a single-point victory against Newport.

The visitors had won six of their last seven games after a mid-season resurgence and they started well when Matthew O’Brien slotted them into the lead after five minutes.

Bargoed’s defence stayed strong for the rest of the half and on 33 minutes they took the lead after a converted try from flanker Lewis Wayman, leaving the score at the break 7-3.

Both clubs traded yellow cards at the beginning of the second half, Rhodri Jones for Newport and Adam Coupe for Bargoed, whose infringement allowed O’Brien to reduce the deficit to one. A third penalty from O’Brien 16 minutes from the end gave Newport a slender advantage. But the Bulls quickly charged back to regain the lead.

An unconverted try from wing David Evans gave the Premiership strugglers a 12-9 lead three minutes later. Evans doubled his tally – scoring another try with three minutes to go to seemingly seal the win for Bargoed. But a late Rhodri Jones try reduced the gap to a single point to set up a nail-biting finale.

But the hosts held on for the win, which takes them to 15th in the standings, while Newport remain tenth. With the league now being cut in two, the two sides will face off again in the second half of the season. Star man David Evans - Bargoed