Bargoed 14 Llandovery 43

Bargoed paid for a mistake-ridden first half performance as they exited the SWALEC Cup at the hands of Premiership outfit Llandovery.

The Blues made an early impression on the home side but a glimpse of the afternoon’s outcome came as early as the fifth minute when an interception saw centre Rhys Williams run the length of the field to deny Bargoed a try scoring opportunity and open the Drovers’ account under the posts. Outside half Tomas Marks converted.

A poor defensive kick allowed the talented Llandovery backs a chance to run back at Bargoed moments later with wing Ifan Evans finishing well and Marks again converting.

The away side settled down and tested the Drovers defence. The referee, playing advantage as an overlap was spurned, called the Blues back for a penalty on the Llandovery line. Captain Mike Roberts called a scrum and with Bargoed driving square and straight, the Llandovery pack wheeled and to the astonishment of the Bargoed supporters the Drovers got the put in and cleared.

Marks added a penalty on 24 minutes and Bargoed were seventeen points adrift.

The mistakes continued and a second try for Ifan Evans and another by full back Dan Rogers put the home side out of sight at 29-0 with the half time whistle approaching. But Bargoed had not given up. Centre Rhys Humphries and wing Geraint Hodges combined and Llandovery slowed down the release. Roberts took a quick tap penalty and spun the ball across the backs for centre Darren Humphries to cross the line. Jamie Howells converted and half time came with the score at 29-7.

A much more composed Blues outfit settled into the second half and an early opportunity came as Hodges burst through the centre and sprinted away unopposed before being called back for a knock on. Bargoed’s spirit was typified by taking the scrum against the head but they couldn’t take advantage and Llandovery regained possession and centre Sam Soul crossed for their fifth try. Marks converted.

Bargoed continued to press and were having much the better of the second half possession. Llandovery were defending desperately and on 54 minutes scrum half Rob Walters was shown a yellow card for a professional foul at a ruck on the Drovers’ line.

Bargoed flanker Gareth McCarthy was flattened at a line out on the half way and moments later took retribution at the next ruck. This time referee Simon Harris spotted it and McCarthy got a straight red.

Llandovery were restored to full strength just in time to see the Bargoed forwards set up good ruck ball just inside the home side’s half. Danny Jones and substitute scrum half Matthew Hutcheon combined, fed Jamie Howells and Hodges cut a fine angle off his wing to scythe through the Llandovery defence for an excellent score. Howells converted with fifteen minutes left as the score stood at 36-14.

Bargoed, to their credit, continued to press and cynical defending from Llandovery saw another yellow card, this time to lock Rhydian Geriat. With the Blues stretching the defence from left to right and back again it looked like only a matter of time before the gaps opened up and so they did. Hooker Lee White came round the back of a ruck and with Jamie Howells unopposed and the line at his mercy, Drovers’ outside half Marks poached the pass, intercepted and ran the length of the field to make the score 43-14 rather than the more creditable 36-21.

One final incident saw another red card. Bargoed number eight Lewis Wayman retaliated to a punch thrown from behind and referee Harris sent him off. Final score 43-14.

Bargoed Chairman Neil Carter was disappointed “You can’t give Premiership sides a 29 point start and hope to win. We gifted them two tries through sloppy play and they had two interceptions from their own try line as we threatened to score ourselves. That said, they had some real talent in the back line and an impressive pack, all buoyed of course with the benefits of access to the Scarlets squad and the academy. Our boys will learn from this experience and we certainly showed what we can do with a gutsy second half display.”

Scorers: Landovery - Tries: D Rogers; Ifan Evans (2); S Soul; R Williams; Marks. Cons - Marks (5); Pen: Marks

Bargoed - Tries - Hodges; D Humphreys; Cons: Howells (2)