Bargoed power to win over defiant Wanderers

Bargoed 41

Wanderers 11

“It’s funny, you look at the scoreboard and it fails to tell the true story of the game. Yes, the power game of a side that has aspirations of the Premiership was impressive but the effort and commitment of a young Wanderers side left us with such a good feeling” commented “One Job” Gould.

“We battled right to the final whistle, never collapsing under such a powerful second half from a pack with so much experience. It leaves us with plenty of positives to take into the new year” added Coach Darren Gibbon.

“Anyone seen Martyn Fowler it’s his round” commented the match sponsor (one of Martyn’s family!!).

On a bright but chilly afternoon the visitors fell behind early on, to a penalty but then hit back and took the home side by surprise. From a scrum the Wanderers executed a neat first phase possession and with Tom Hughes joining the line they got outside the Bargoed defence. Will Adams Jones took the final pass and he crashed over to give the visitors an unexpected lead 3-5. The score stung the home side into action and they started to exercise their power game. Looking to drive from lineouts and carry the ball up the guts in midfield they forced the Wanderers into several defensive sets. The visitors back row especially Max Wootton and Mike Owen were prominent in defence making life tough for the home side. Bargoed soon got ahead on the scoreboard after a lineout deep in Wanderers territory resulted in a try after a couple of close quarter drives, 10-5. The game ebbed and flowed with the Wanderers battling and despite a massive size and experience gulf they made life hard for the home side. Another converted try followed, making it 17-5 and as the half entered its last quarter the visitors scrum started to creek under the onslaught. The Wanderers were not overawed though and after a decent forward drive of their own a penalty allowed Cavan Slade a chance and he reduced the arrears to 17-8. Back came Bargoed and once again their power game made the difference and a third try, this time unconverted, made it 22-8. The gamed edged to the break but the visitors managed one more score after great breakdown work by Owen that allowed Slade a second penalty and the sides went into the break at 22-11.

The second half was dominated by the home side as the power game gave the Wanderers little respite. With their forwards carrying well and their backs efficient in possession it was clear that it was a “backs to the wall” effort from the visitors. As it was, they never collapsed and the floodgates were kept only slightly ajar as time and time again the Wanderers, with Zak Fifield defying his size when hitting players back, keeping the Bargoed side at bay. Two pushover tries in the half cemented their performance and their deserved position at the top of the Championship, but there were still glimpses that the young Wanderers could trouble sides in the future. As both sides emptied their benches Bargoed were able to bring on more size and experience emphasising the difference between the sides and the Wanderers lost captain Cameron Gibbon which caused a reshuffle in the back line. Despite that the home side only added 3 tries in the half and at the close it was the visitors who had a late revival following more good defensive work and the game ended with the Bargoed line under pressure but not breached. Final Score Bargoed 41-11.

Wanderers’ scorers

Try: Will Adams Jones

Pens: Cavan Slade (2)

Management MOM: Max Wootton
Massiv MOM: Max Wootton

Pic : https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd