The unbeaten league leaders have lost only at Pontypridd in the Swalec Cup this season, and then only after giving the reigning Premiership leaders more than a few headaches, and know that if they can do the double over the All Whites they will be within touching distance of the biggest trophy in their history.
The Championship table shows Bargoed at the top with 92 points from 19 straight victories with seven games to go. Swansea, who dropped down from the Premiership last season, have got 82 from 20 games.
When the two teams met first this season at St Helen’s on 1 November it was Leigh Meades’ side who came out on top, 27-6, adding insult to injury by taking a bonus point away with them for scoring four tries. They remain the only time to win at the famous St Helen’s this season.
While Swansea have been beaten three times in their 20 games to date, Bargoed have not lost and picked up 17 try bonus points to their nearest rivals’ 14. That has given them an 11 point cushion at the top which could grow to 16 points if they repeat their victory of November.
But Bargoed’s preparations for the big game have been hit by injuries. One man definitely ruled out is centre Phil Price, who won’t play again this season after breaking his arm, while No 8 Ross Coombes and centre Neil Burnett are both recovering from knocks sustained in the 27-20 away win at Cardiff Met.
Bargoed backs coach Dai Lynch believes Swansea will be a better side than they met in November and noted they have two different centres and a more mature pack when he watched them beat Newbridge recently.
“We’ve looked at the film of our win at Swansea but we couldn’t really learn much from it. We had such a good day then, and the game went to uncontested scrums so early, that there was little to learn,” said Lynch.
“It is going to come down to a huge contest between the two packs and we are just concentrating on what we can bring to the game. We’ve got three home games in a row and we could win the title if we win them all.
“The pressure is on, but that’s how we like it. We’ve set targets for this team to not only win the title, but to win it in a style and a way that will be remembered for a long time.”
Bargoed have five home games left in their seven remaining matches and have a few landmarks in sight. Their best tally of points in the Championship was 98 in 2012/13, which is only five away; the record number of points by a team is 123, by Ebbw Vale in 2012/13, and is still matchable if they can clinch a try bonus point in winning all of their remaining games; the Championship record of 22 try bonus points can still be beaten; the club’s record high of 103 tries is only six away; they need only two more wins to surpass their previous best of 20.
If Swansea are to bridge the 11 point gap, and stand any chance of winning the title, they will not only need to win with a bonus point, but also restrict Bargoed to no points. They will arrive on the back of eight straight league wins, but face their ultimate test of the season.
If Bargoed go on to win the league they will add the Championships to the titles they have won over the past 13 seasons climbing from the lowest rung of the league ladder in Wales to the top. The unfortunate thing for them is that they don’t currently meet the criteria needed to play in the Principality Premiership.
Swalec Championship Fixtures, 28 March
Bargoed v Swansea
Llanharan v Cardiff Met
Narberth v Blackwood
Pontypool v Bridgend Athletic
RGC 1404 v Tata Steel
Tondu v Glynneath
