Bargoed 24 UWIC 34

Bargoed were in total control of this game at half time and will be studying the video to find out how it got away from them.

A very heavy pitch made a running game difficult and both sides took time to settle down. UWIC took the lead on 24 minutes when lock Richard Mountford powered over. Bargoed hit back immediately when flanker Adam Cullen set the ball back at a ruck and quick hands across the backs saw centres Rhys and Darren Humphries put full back Jamie Howells into space and he crashed over to level the scores before slotting over the conversion.

Howells extended the lead to 5-10 with a well struck penalty following a high tackle on Darren Humphries which saw the students’ flanker Kyle Barrett go off for 10 minutes.

A scrum in midfield 40 metres out gave Bargoed number 8 Lewis Wayman the opportunity he relishes. The big man ran straight at the heart of the UWIC defence and broke through to give the visitors a deserved 5-17 lead with the conversion.

UWIC outside half Simon Humberstone put over a penalty on the stroke of half time and the score at the break stood at 8-17.

Humberstone narrowed the gap with a drop goal within a minute of the restart and added a penalty shortly after. Having suffered two interceptions the previous week the last thing Bargoed supporters wanted was a replay but that was what they got. UWIC centre Matt Trowbridge telegraphed the pass from outside half Danny Jones and the centre was under the posts in a flash. Humberstone converted to give the students a 24-17 lead.

Bargoed hit back with replacement scrum half Mike Roberts taking a quick penalty and setting Rhys Humphries free. He scythed through the UWIC defence making 40 metres before finding brother Darren outside him and the big centre carried two tacklers over with him. Howells converted to square it at 24 all.

Bargoed pressed for the win and were caught napping - lock Matt Smith running in from 20 metres. Humberstone added the conversion and finished the game off with another drop goal to make the final score 34-24.

Scorers: UWIC - Tries: Trowbridge; Mountford; Smith; Cons Humberstone (2); Pens - Humberstone (3); DG - Humberstone (2).

Bargoed: Tries: Howells; D Humphries; Weyman; Cons - Howells (3); Pen - Howells.