Bargoed 11-28 Pontypridd – Match Report
In a match that produced very few clear-cut chances in the first half, it was Pontypridd who crossed for four second half tries to claim a hard-fought bonus-point win against Bargoed at Bargoed Park, and as a result remained top of the Admiral Welsh Premiership table.
Storm Amy was relenting in terms of the rain that had fallen over South Wales over the preceding 24 hours, but the strong winds remained a huge factor throughout the contest in the Rhymney Valley.
Bargoed kicked the match off and enjoyed the early pressure. After regaining possession a few phases after the kick off, a chip through was fielded by Jorge Lucey and he cleared into touch. Bargoed attacked again but this was thwarted by a good hit in midfield from Stuart Floyd-Ellis and he forced a ball-spill.
The Valley Commandos were then awarded a penalty which allowed them to build territory and possession working their way upfield following a kick into touch. Ponty were awarded three penalties in quick-succession by referee Aaron Parry, which resulted in a final warning from him to Bargoed. The final penalty in this particular period of play saw Jorge Lucey slot the ball between the posts from the tee to give his side a 3-0 lead.
Bargoed had the advantage of playing with the strong wind in the first period of the match, but struggled at times to use this to their advantage including putting the kick off from Ponty’s early successful penalty-goal out on the full.
The contest entered a bit of a scrappy period with neither side able to string any meaningful plays together. Inaccuracy from Pontypridd nearly gave Bargoed their first points of the afternoon when following a good gather by Iwan Griffith, his pass couldn’t find Stuart Floyd-Ellis and the loose ball was hacked through by Barg openside Rhys Stephens deep into Ponty’s 22. Stephens knocked it on when trying to gather, but the home side won a penalty from the ensuing scrum which they duly kicked into the corner. Pontypridd were now under real pressure but some strong defence and superb work on the floor saw the penalty being awarded in their favour.
With the match approaching the first quarter, Ponty were penalised for a deliberate knock-on whilst making a tackle in midfield and Bargoed flyhalf Josh Prosser levelled the scores at 3-3.
A few minutes later after a bit of kick-tennis in open play, the home side launched an attack when a gap opened up in front of Barg fullback Dylan Williams and with the ball in hand he went through it. He was hauled down but the home side put boot to ball into the corner. More Bargoed pressure was again repelled by stoic Pontypridd defence deep in the 22 and they were rewarded with another penalty for more good work at the breakdown.
On the half hour mark it was the home side who took the lead with another Josh Prosser penalty after Ponty were penalised for a high tackle.
In the closing stages of the first forty minutes Pontypridd went back to basics, numerous hard carries which gained territory – this all happened just before Bargoed tighthead prop Josh Parry was yellow carded for a high tackle on Mitch Barnard. Dale Stuckey took over kicking duties and slotted the penalty-goal. A first half lacking in any genuine clear-cut try scoring opportunities ended six points apiece.
HALF TIME: Bargoed 6-6 Pontypridd
Pontypridd kicked off the second half with the wind now in their favour. It took a little while for both teams to settle into the second period – Ponty kicked the ball out on the full before Bargoed did the same. Bargoed then missed touch from a penalty which allowed Ponty to run the ball back at the home side and they worked an opening down the left – it looked certain that Stuart Floyd-Ellis was going to slide in for the first try of the match, but he was bundled into touch via a last gasp Bargoed tackle.
At this point Bargoed were struggling to gain any meaningful territory from their clearing kicks due to the strong wind howling around Bargoed Park, before Pontypridd were awarded consecutive penalties. Pontypridd used their rolling maul but good defence from the home side kept them out. However, the Valley Commandos showed good patience and were rewarded when they worked an opening down the left and Oli Shepherd dived over for a try. Bargoed no.8 Dafydd Rees was shown a yellow card due to the cumulation of persistent offences by the home side in the build up to the try.
Ponty may have been leading 11-6, but the home side came back strong after the try and won a penalty on halfway, and kicked into Pontypridd territory. Bargoed were piling on the pressure and worked an opportunity of their own deep in Ponty’s 22. However, Dale Stuckey flew out of the defensive line and knocked the ball up and re-gathered a Bargoed pass before it could hit the floor and be deemed a deliberate knock-on. Jorge Lucey then put in a superb touch finding clearance kick to relieve the pressure.
With the match approaching the hour mark Pontypridd scored their second try. Some patient build up play which included some excellent handling from both the forwards and backs nearly yielded a try, but the ball was ripped in contact on the Bargoed tryline. But Ponty had the penalty advantage and wouldn’t be denied when they switched the direction of play for Jordan Coxley to crash over. The conversion was missed, but for the first time in the match there was a bit of breathing space between the two teams with Pontypridd leading 16-6.
However, Bargoed Park is one of the most difficult grounds to visit in the Welsh Premiership for a reason and the home side got themselves back into proceedings. Following the restart after Coxley’s try Barg ramped up the pressure knowing the clock was against them. They put through a probing kick deep into Ponty’s 22 which Oli Shepherd palmed into play knowing that it would have been a 50:22 had it gone out. But in doing so he put Jorge Lucey under enormous pressure and he could only get the ball of the park 5 metres out. But Bargoed overthrew the initial lineout and pressure was relieved temporarily from a Ponty point of view.
Pontypridd cleared, but then a couple of minutes later gave away a penalty on halfway which again allowed Bargoed to pump the ball deep into the visitors’ 22. A full lineout was called but a short throw to the front man caught Ponty off-guard and after some initial good defence kept the home side out, Bargoed prop Louis Jones bundled his way over in the corner for the try. Former Ponty flyhalf Joseph Scrivens couldn’t add the extras, but it was game on at 11 points to 16.
With less than 10 minutes left on the clock Dale Stuckey finished superbly to put Ponty in a great position with time elapsing. Bargoed cleared their lines with a relieving kick and Stuckey gathered near halfway, foot to the throttle, jinking one way through a gap before jinking the other way through another, he finished like only he can. Kicking into the wind Jaydan Pugh missed the conversion, but Ponty had put daylight between themselves and Bargoed with the score standing at 21 points to 11 in their favour.
With just four minutes remaining in the match Ponty replacement Ethan Evans put the icing on the cake for the away side when he scored the bonus-point try. Again, showing patience in the Bargoed half building phases and territory, Evans went on a great run and produced a fine finish.
The win, which included the full five league points was just the fillip that Pontypridd needed following last week’s Welsh Cup exit as they prepare for back-to-back home league matches against Newbridge and Cross Keys on the next two Saturdays 11th and 18th October.
FULL TIME: Bargoed 11-28 Pontypridd
Match report – Geraint Thomas (4/10/2025)
PONTYPRIDD –
15. Oli Shepherd (Jaydan Pugh). 14. Iwan Griffith. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Garyn Smith. 11. Dale Stuckey (Callum Coxley). 10. Jorge Lucey. 9. Joel Raikes (Dan Roderick).
1. Cameron Tyler-Grocott (Luc Morrish). 2. Louis Tovey (Connah Hughes). 3. Kian Mattravers (Dan Cotterell). 4. Mitch Barnard (Ethan Evans). 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles (Jordan Coxley).
Subs: 16. Connah Hughes. 17. Luc Morrish. 18. Dan Cotterell. 19. Ethan Evans. 20. Jordan Coxley. 21. Dan Roderick. 22. Jaydan Pugh. 23. Callum Coxley.
Tries: Oli Shepherd, Jordan Coxley, Dale Stuckey, Ethan Evans
Conversion: Jaydan Pugh
Penalties: Jorge Lucey, Dale Stuckey
BARGOED –
15. Dylan Williams. 14. Ashley Norton. 13. Logan Yendle. 12. Jordan Yendle. 11. Charlie Williams. 10. Josh Prosser (c). 9. James Leadbeater.
1. Louis Jones. 2. Johnny Wright. 3. Josh Parry. 4. Lewis Johnson. 5. James Locke. 6. Will Gregory. 7. Rhys Stephens. 8. Dafydd Rees.
Subs: 16. Morgan Edwards. 17. Dan Morgan. 18. K. Best. 19. Tom Rice. 20. Keaton Davies. 21. Toby Thomas. 22. Joseph Scrivens. 23. Matthew Lewis.
Try: Louis Jones
Penalties: Josh Prosser x 2
Yellow Cards: Josh Parry, Dafydd Rees
Referee: Aaron Parry
Assistant Referee: Tony Davies
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