Bargoed defeated Llanelli Wanderers 25-16 in the Premiership on 26 September. The away side took all three points on the road, extending their momentum after a string of high-scoring encounters. Llanelli Wanderers have now tasted defeat in their most recent outing, a shift from the form that saw them edge Mertyr 21-38 earlier this month.
The visitors arrived with a run of results that suggested they could score freely. Their last five matches included four victories, with scores ranging from 18-26 to 42-26. They had beaten Newport 41-39 in May and held their own against tougher opposition in between. There was a sense they would not simply be outplayed at home.
Our prediction called for an away win, and the result confirmed that reading. We had placed 57 per cent confidence on Bargoed, and they showed enough composure to see it through. The scoreline did not blow Llanelli Wanderers away, but it was enough to settle any lingering doubt about who should have too much for them.
Llanelli Wanderers have been involved in closer affairs lately. Their last five matches included two narrow defeats and two wins, with the Mertyr game at 21-38 perhaps the most telling. They had pulled away against Brecon 27-26 and Narberth 17-24, but the away trip to Bargoed proved a different proposition. The home side held on grimly for a while before the visitors pulled clear.
The result leaves Bargoed with a positive trajectory, while Llanelli Wanderers will need to regroup. Both sides have played five matches in this period, and the gap in quality showed when it mattered. The away win extended Bargoed's unbeaten run, even if the margin was not as comfortable as the form suggested.
