Bargoed and Swansea both got themselves out of the basement battle – the bottom four teams will all be relegated at the end of the season – with big home wins. It was the first success in 16 league outings for both sides dating back to February this year.
The last time Bargoed tasted success before their 20-13 home triumph over Cross Keys was 17 February, when they beat Aberavon16-14. Swansea hadn’t won since 10 February, when they also beat Aberavon last season by 19-7, before they won their local derby with Neath 25-12 at the weekend.
Three penalties from the ever-reliable boot of Ed Howley gave Neath a 9-0 lead at St Helen’s, but it was a day for the home goalkicker Luke Griffiths to take centre stage. While Howley ended with four from four off the kicking tee, opposing full back Griffiths hammered over seven of his nine attempts to end with a matchwinning tally of 20 points.
The only try of the game came via lock Tudor Hughes in the 25th minute, which namesake Griffiths duly converted. It was enough to hoist the Whites up to 12th, one above the automatic relegation zone.
It was the perfect end to a day that had earlier seen the club honour a ‘Magnificent Seven’ players from the amateur era with the awarding of a special cap to recognise them playing 100+ games for the club. The first batch of cap winners were Morrie Evans, Mike Thomas, Stuart Davies, Geoff Atherton, Mike James, Geoff Wheel and Barry Clegg.
“I’m so pleased that the boys have finally got the monkey off their back and have got their first win. They thoroughly deserved it,” said Swansea’s head coach Richard Lancaster
Bargoed’s win was equally significant and included 10 points from outside half Josh Prosser against his former club. Barney Nightingale and Louis Blacker added the tries and Keys were overtaken in the end after leading 7-0 at the break.
A driving line-out try from Joe Thomas shortly after home prop John Lavender had been sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle, converted by Jason Tovey, were the only points of the first-half. Nightingale then won an aerial battle to get his side into the contest with a try at the start of the second half and Prosser’s conversion levelled things up.
Blacker’s driving line-out score was decisive and Prosser did the rest of the damage to move The Bulls into 13th. Neath, Bedwas and Llanelli are now below them having lost all four opening games.
“We’re really pleased with the result and the fact that we managed the game far better in the second half than we did in the first. We talked at half time about how we needed to be patient, play in the right areas and apply real pressure, and we did that,” said Bargoed head coach Dai Lynch.
“We’ll continue to work hard and look forward to the opportunity to build on this win. It was also good to see Louis Blacker, James Locke and Julian Mogg returning from injury to increase competition, but disappointing to lose Alex Herbert.”
Llanelli are still awaiting their first point of the campaign after their 26-0 defeat at Llandovery. That bonus point win – Richard Williams, Aaron Warren, Gavin Thomas and an 80th minute penalty try got them their five points – was enough to keep the Drovers on top of the table, with Ebbw Vale hot on their heels following their fourth successive win, a narrow 17-16 home win over Bridgend.
Carmarthen Quins hit back to beat Cardiff 19-13 to pick up their third win of the season, centre Nick Reynolds stealing a try on the back of a driving maul. Aberavon’s great start to the season continued as they backed up their home win over Pontypridd with a superb 22-14 win at The Wern against reigning champions Merthyr.
On Sunday, Newport added more worries for Bedwas as they beat them 22-17 at Rodney Parade.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP – ROUND
Friday, 21 September
Pontypridd18 – 32 RGC 1404
Saturday, 22 September
Bargoed 20 – 13 Cross Keys
Carmarthen Quins 19 – 13 Cardiff
Ebbw Vale 17 – 16 Bridgend
Llandovery 26 – 0 Llanelli
Merthyr 14 – 22 Aberavon
Swansea 25 – 12 Neath
Sunday, 23 September
Newport 22 – 17 Bedwas
