After 14 successive defeats, 10 of them this season, newly appointed skipper Aaron Bramwell led the way with the first of three tries that fully justified the standing ovation his side received as they took the field.
Head coach Simon King had to draft in 12 players on permit in his matchday 23 following nine departures earlier in the week in the wake of the off-the-field financial difficulties. The emergency recruits, and those who stayed behind, were magnificent in efforts from start to finish.
Bargoed proved they in no mood to be sentimental and twice hit the front in the opening quarter with tries from wings Duane Dyer and Ashley Norton, one of which Josh Prosser converted. But Bramwell’s try, sandwiched in between those two scores, and the boot of left wing Callum Hall were enough to edge the home side into a 14-12 interval lead.
From there on it was a case of converting pressure into points and Neath finally managed to do that to earn four much needed points. The 38-year-old former All Blacks centre Regan King glided through for a second try on 50 minutes and then Hall race over 18 minutes later to seal the victory and take his match haul to 20 points.
Cardiff skipper Joe Tomlinson was delighted with his side’s 36-0 win at Bridgend – the seventh in a row to hoist the Blue & Blacks into third place, one point behind Pontypridd and only eight off league leaders Merthyr.
Bridgend were their own worst enemies after holding Cardiff in the opening quarter and allowed their visitors to build up a 15-0 interval lead with four penalties from the boot of Gareth Thompson and then a 55 metre howitzer from new signing Ed Howley.
The Ravens also lost Chris John and Iestyn Merriman to yellow cards to make life even more difficult. Second half tries from Will Rees-Hole, Tom Daley and Morgan Allen took Cardiff further ahead, but that fourth try remained elusive.
League leaders Merthyr had their bonus point in the bag by half-time at The Wern as they battered Cross Keys with eight tries in a 52-28 win that took them even further ahead at the top of the table. Keys dug deep to pick up a losing bonus-point thanks to tries from Scott Evans, Scott Andrews, Rory Bodina and Rhydian Jenkins, all of which Jason Tovey converted, but they were very much second best to the treble-chasing champions.
Prop Nathan Trevett came up with a try in each half and Lewis Williams, Jay Baker and Rhys Williams all crossed in a first-half that saw the home side race into a 28-14 lead. After the break Adam Hoskins and Joe Williams also got in on the act before the eighth try from outside half Richard Powell completed the rout and took his match tally to 17 points with his sixth conversion.
In the battle for second place, Pontypridd just edged out Llandovery at Sardis Road. The home side won 18-16 thanks largely to tries from Huw Dowden and Alex Webber. Joe Powell got the Drovers’ only try and Jack Maynard kicked the rest of his side’s points.
The Gwent derby at Eugene Cross Park saw Ebbw Vale skipper end up on the losing side in his 200th game for the Steelmen as Newport stole the show with a 27-20 triumph. Chay Smith, Matt O’Brien and Elliot Frewen scored tries for the visitors and O’Brien ended with 17 points.
Swansea stunned Carmarthen Quins with tries from Tom Ham and Ben Cambriani in a 21-17 victory at St Helen’s, while Jon Phillips, Stef Andrews and Ashton Evans were all at the double for Aberavon in their 54-29 victory over Llanelli. Scrum half scored a hat-trick of tries in RGC 1404’s 38-12 hpome win over Bedwas.
