By: Paul Hopkins
Four tries in 25 minutes for hooker Jamie Cox helped the All Whites make it two wins from two in their pre season matches, as they comfortably defeated Bargoed in treacherous conditions.
The contrast in the weather from last week’s win at Llanelli Wanderers couldn’t have been more helpful for coach Jonathan Thomas as he looks to build a side that can compete in all conditions and types of game.
In the early exchanges flanker Rhys Stephens took a lineout, but an error saw the Whites turn over possession through Cox, with fly half Josh Phillips’ chip through bouncing into touch inside the Bargoed 22.
Number eight Jacob Hopkins drove forward from a ruck and centre Callum Carson chipped through, but play was brought back for a Swansea penalty. Phillips chipped to the corner and a good take by lock Cai Arnold saw scrum half Iwan Temblett dart forward. The Whites pack stayed patient for a while, but ended up giving away a penalty for diving over the top of a ruck.
Fly half Joseph Scrivens charged down a kick inside the Swansea half, but the visitors gained possession back almost straightaway, in a scrappy piece of play not helped by the driving heavy rain.
Then it was scrum half Toby Thomas’ turn to spill the ball forward, and an outstanding 50/22 by Phillips gave Swansea attacking possession just metres from the Bargoed line. Arnold collected the lineout and a well worked move saw Cox crash over for his first try. Phillips converted.
Winger Ashley Norton tried to run the ball clear from his own try line, but was caught by the Whites’ defence and he gave away a penalty, which Phillips chipped to the corner. Lock Chris Thompson took the lineout, but an outstanding defence maul by the Bargoed pack turned over possession.
A powerful scrum by the visitors earned a penalty and Phillips again chipped to the corner. Flanker Ethan Fackrell took the lineout and a carbon copy of the first try followed, as Cox powered over to score from the maul. Phillips converted.
Norton spilled a routine high ball to gift the All Whites a scrum on their own 22, and then another powerful scrum by the visitors earned a penalty. Ethan Fackrell rose high to collect the ball again, but the home side gave away another penalty, cue a repeat chip to touch by Phillips. This time a well worked lineout saw S2 crash over for his hat trick try inside 20 minutes. Phillips converted.
Arnold took the kick off and charged forward to set up another Swansea attack. Another well weighted kick ahead by Phillips found touch a couple of metres short of the line for a 50/22. The result of the lineout was simply inevitable as Cox collected his fourth try from a rolling maul. Phillips converted.
Scrivens dummied his way towards half way, but was caught holding onto possession on the floor, with Phillips finding touch inside the Bargoed 22. In search of a fifth try, Thompson failed to take the lineout and the home side were able to clear.
Thompson made amends by collecting another lineout and this time the visitors used their backs, but Stephens pounced on a loose ball and got his side some much needed possession. The Whites were soon back with the ball though, but Carson dropped a pass in slippery conditions.
A poorly judged chip ahead by Phillips sailed over the dead ball line to give Bargoed a rare attacking set piece inside the Swansea half. The home pack earned a penalty at the scrum, but an awful kick by Scrivens failed to find touch.
Moments later Phillips found touch on the Bargoed 22 with a penalty, but a poor lineout throw by Cox was taken by Will Gregory and his side were able to clear.
Bargoed were awarded another penalty at the scrum and Scrivems this time found touch inside the Swansea 22. A misfiring lineout was taken by Scrivens at the back of the lineout with hooker Louis Jones powering forward, before winger Oli Andrews lost possession forward in the tackle, and Temblett cleared with a box kick.
Half-time:- Bargoed 0-28 Swansea
Winger Ieuan Cornelius collected a Phillips chip ahead, and Ethan Fackrell tried some enterprising rugby on the wing, but he spilled the ball forward.
Replacement scrum half Luke Davies was penalised for holding on the ground, so Matthew Flanagan took a quick tap penalty to get his side some territory inside the Swansea 22, but Bargoed again lost possession in the difficult conditions.
Phillips chipped into the Bargoed 22 with a penalty and replacement lock Matt Dodd took the lineout, but his side were driven back to the 22. A clever volley and gather by winger Brandon Wood got the Whites into an attacking position, but Scrivens stole possession and kicked a wind assisted 50/22. Stephens tapped down the lineout into Swansea hands though.
During the next phase of play both Dodd and Jones were issued a yellow card by referee Adam Jones for an off the ball melee.
Then the ball was fed up wide to Norton, who raced 10 metres upfield but he was stopped just short of the line, and another handling error gave Swansea a reprieve.
Logan Heaven-Hearn took a lineout and drove over half way, before Cornelius took a Davies box kick, but he was deemed in front of the kicker and gave away a penalty.
The visitors conceded another penalty at the lineout and Scrivens chipped deep into the corner. The Bargoed backs tried to spread play, but Joey Hall knocked on to gift Swansea a scrum on their own 22.
Wood picked up a loose ball and backed his pace, before feeding Harrison Doe on the wing, but his chip ahead was marked inside the 22 by full back Dylan Williams.
A superb box kick by Flanagan found touch inside the Swansea 22, but the All Whites managed a routine lineout and were able to clear.
Williams dropped a high ball to give the Whites a scrum on half way, and the visitors were awarded a penalty at the next play, which Davies took quick and sprinted over the 22, but a crunching tackle on prop Tom Crockett ended the move as he spilled possession forward.
Centre Matthew Lewis hacked on a loose ball and his side were awarded a penalty on the 22, which Prosser chipped to the corner.
A well worked lineout saw the Bargoed forwards rumble towards the line, but as they spread play to the backs, a crossfield kick sailed over Williams’ head into touch. A penalty followed, and Hall took a quick tap and crashed over for a first Bargoed try. Prosser converted.
Dodd took a lineout just shy of the Bargoed 22 and the Whites pack mauled their way forward, before the home side collapsed the maul. Replacement fly half Tal Rees chipped into the corner but the visitors failed to make the most of the opportunity with Bargoed clearing long.
Full-time:- Bargoed 7-28 Swansea
Bargoed:
Tries:- Louis Jones (74)
Cons:- Josh Prosser (75)
Yellow cards:- Louis Jones (45)
Swansea:
Tries:- Jamie Cox (11, 16, 21, 25)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (12, 17, 22, 26)
Yellow cards:- Matt Dodd (45)
Match facts:
Venue:- Bargoed Park, Swansea
Weather:- Heavy rain, 16C
Man of the match:- Jamie Cox
Referee:- Adam Jones
Attendance:- 300
Bargoed team:
15 Dylan Williams
14 Oli Andrews
13 Logan Yendle
12 Matthew Lewis
11 Ashley Norton
10 Joseph Scrivens
9 Toby Thomas
1 Keiron Brown
2 Morgan Edwards
3 Keegan Bale
4 James Locke
5 Owain Cooper
6 Daf Rees
7 Rhys Stephens
8 Tom Rice
Replacements:
16 Louis Jones
17 Joey Hall
18 Josh Parry
19 Geraint Edmunds
20 Will Gregory
21 Keaton Davies
22 Jason James
23 Matthew Flanagan
24 Josh Prosser
25 Charlie Williams
26 Jordan Howells
Swansea team:
15 Iwan Glynn
14 Ieuan Cornelius
13 Callum Dodd
12 Callum Carson
11 Brandon Wood
10 Josh Phillips
9 Iwan Temblett
1 Tom Crockett
2 Jamie Cox
3 Ellis Fackrell
4 Cai Arnold
5 Chris Thompson
6 Callum Bowden
7 Ethan Fackrell
8 Jacob Hopkins
Replacements:
16 Rhodri King
17 Logan Lloyd
18 Logan Heaven-Hearn
19 Matt Dodd
20 Rhys Barrow
21 Brandon Owens
22 Kai Inker
23 Tal Rees
24 Jack Hoskins
25 Harrison Doe
26 Luke Davies