Their much awaited home clash with second placed Swansea turned into an epic battle in which the All Whites threw everything they had at the league leaders and built up a 15-5 lead in the first-half.
But Bargoed haven’t been at the top of the table all season for nothing. They re-grouped, reverted to their strengths and it was a drop goal from Neil Burnett two minutes from time that finally broke the deadlock . . . and Swansea hearts.
Five penalties from Thomas took Swansea into a deserved lead, but the home side hit back with a Grant Rodgers try 10 minutes from the break. The second half was all about catch-up and when Darren Humphries crossed in the 56th minute for a try which Josh Prosser converted the great escape was on.
Prosser added a penalty with to level the scores at 15-15 and then put his side into the lead or the first time with eight minutes left on the clock with another penalty. Thomas then coolly landed his sixth penalty of the afternoon to make it 18-18 and seemingly put Swansea back on course for a share of the spoils.
But Bargoed never give up, especially at home, and having reclaimed the kick-off the forwards drove up the middle of the field and two phases later Burnett dropped back in the pocket, took the pass from replacement scrum half Craig Wilson and dropped the match winning goal from 40 metres.
“We’re very disappointed because we totally dominated the first half and went in 15-5 up. Nobody had come here and won this season and they obviously had a good chat at half time and they showed a lot more desire in the second half,” said Swansea’s Nicky Thomas, who kicked all 18 points for his side.
Swansea have five games left and need to find a way to close a gap of 14 points on the league leaders. Bargoed have a game in hand and have not earned 97 points from their 20 successive Championship victories.
Bridgend Athletic picked up one of their best results of the season as they hammered Pontypool 29-0 at Pontypool Park. The home side had won the opening game of the season between the two sides by three points and were looking to end a run of two successive defeats that had seen them drop down the table.
But they simply had no answer to the visitor’s direct play and they snatched the lead on their first raid into the home 22 when centre Ryan Owen crossed for a try which Josh White converted. That made it 7-0 at the break and there were two more tries in the second half, as well as 12 more points from the trusty boot of White to complete the rout.
As the Pontypool RFC website pointed out, it was only the third time that Pontypool had failed to score at home in the league – losing 3-0 to Bedwas in March 2006 and 25-0 to Newbridge in November 1993.
RGC 1404 picked up yet another try bonus point s they beat Tata Steel 36-10 at home in a game that featured a hat-trick of tries from Kelvin Davies. There were also two from Tian Lootes and another from Wales Under 20 centre Harri Evans. James Lang added three conversions to consolidate his side’s third place in the Championship table.
Narberth piled on the points and tries as they beat Blackwood 74-5 while the games between Llanharan and Cardiff Met and Tondu and Glynneath were postponed. Merthyr were involved in the Swalec Cup.
