Three tries in the space of seven minutes early in the first half helped Cardiff on their way to a bonus point victory at Bargoed Park.
On a beautiful day for running rugby both sides looked to exploit the conditions. Bargoed starting brightly, but the Blue & Blacks were first to score. Having been forced to defend after a kick through was blocked, the visitors got their hands on the ball and worked down the field. From a set piece move Gareth Thompson’s delayed pass to Edd Howley sent the fullback through a hole for the first try on the ten minute mark. Those two players were involved in the second try, this time scored on the opposite side of the field. Joe Gatt supplying the final pass for Llywarch Ap Myrddin to cross, Thompson adding the extras.
Howley was to get his second within two minutes. A break by Morgan Griffiths was supported by the fullback and his dancing feet and turn of pace did the rest. Again Thompson was on target with the conversion. But the home side had not come to make up the numbers. Their pack was up for the game and when they earned a line out close to the Cardiff line Lewys Lippiet the man to cross. Cardiff contributed to the Bull’s second try. A dropped ball was collected by Barney Nightingale, the centre putting Ashely Norton over.
Cardiff, however, were attacking whenever they could and it was no surprise when the bonus point try came. A lovely chip over the defence was collected by Howley and he touched down for his hat-trick. On the stroke of halftime he added his fourth, again his pace taking him through a gap in the home defence. Thompson converted both for a 33-14 half time advantage,
The second half was a disjointed affair. Both sides made a raft of replacements that stemmed the flow of the game. Cardiff extended their lead following a penalty that was pushed into the corner. From the lineout the maul was shunted over the line, Ian Jenkins at the back to crash over. Bargoed got a try back a few minutes later only for Cardiff to extend their lead. Mass confusion in the Bargoed ranks led to the ball bouncing around on the half way line. Llywarch Ap Myrddin reacted quickest and with the home side looking to the referee for his whistle the wing scampered off downfield to score. Bargoed got the bonus point their effort deserved but the final ten minutes was very scrappy, but with Pontypridd losing Cardiff know a point at RGC on Saturday will secure second place in the table