Fixture

Following a tough Pre-Season both teams would have been relieved to see the start of what is sure to be a very competitive Specsavers National Championship season. Bargoed are one of four teams to have been relegated from the Principality Premiership last season and will surely be looking for a quick return at the end of this season - consequently, todays fixture presented the young students with a considerable challenge.

Bargoed kicked off and immediately gained a foothold deep in Cardiff Met territory, using their heavy forwards to test the resilience of the Cardiff Met defence. Following a sustained period of Bargoed pressure, during which the Met defence looked to be both well organised and effective, Bargoed were awarded a penalty just outside the Cardiff Met 22 - which Steffan Jones converted to give Bargoed an early lead. Much of the first half was a rather untidy affair with neither side being able to put together any threatening attacks. Cardiff Met were struggling to gain any quality possession due to their scrum being placed under severe pressure and a malfunctioning lineout. Bargoed kicked a second penalty to double their lead and things were not looking good for the Met.  However, during the closing stages of the first half the students were able to gain some useful field position and the pressure they exerted resulted in Harry Johnston kicking two penalties to take the teams in all square at half-time.

Cardiff Met got off to the perfect start to the second half when, following a rare successful lineout, centre Harry Johnston burst through to score a great try which he then converted to give the Met a 13-6 lead. Bargoed came straight back at the students, continuing to use their heavy pack to batter away at the Cardiff Met defensive line - which continued to repel wave after wave of attack. However, having gained a position inside the Cardiff Met 22, the forwards eventually created an opportunity for Bargoed second row Adam Powell to crash over.  Steffan Jones converted to level the scores at 13-13. Bargoed introduced the considerable physical presence of Geraint Edmunds into the second row with Adam Powell moving to the back row and they continued to dominate at the scrum, denying the students any real platform from which to launch their attacks. It was Geraint Edmunds who was next on the scoreboard, again crashing over from close range with Steffan Jones converting to give Bargoed the lead at 13-20. As the game moved into the final quarter the Bargoed pack began to tire and the students began to gain more of a foothold in the game, their scrum began to gain parity which allowed them to establish themselves inside the Bargoed half. A number of poorly executed lineouts in very promising areas will have frustrated them but they continued to put pressure on a tiring Bargoed outfit. Just before full time, Bargoed were awarded a scrum on their own 5m line. Cardiff Met produced their best scrum of the game causing Bargoed to lose control of possession at the base of the scrum - back row forward Will Gibson reacted well to crash over.  Harry Johnston converted to tie the scores at 20-20.  With the game moving into injury time Bargoed produced some of their most threatening attacks but the Met defence held out to gain a hard earned draw.  Both teams will probably reflect on their performances and agree that there is plenty to improve upon, but for the students a hard earned 2 points against a team which is likely to be amongst the title contenders was certainly well deserved.