Women’s Rugby – Division Two

Bargoed Bears 5 Penybanc Panthers 47

Following a below par performance in their victory against Lampeter last week, the Panthers looked to up the ante against rivals for the Division Two title, Bargoed Bears.

Both sides entered this encounter with a 100 per cent win record and a loss would seriously dent the progression of either side. Having never beaten Bargoed, the Panthers were all too aware of the task ahead of them.

Sporting their new kit, the Penybanc side had the perfect start when, within the opening moments, the ball was whisked to Brittony Price, who weaved her way from inside her own half to open the scoring. Panthers skipper Catrin Rees converted.

Expecting a swift response from Bargoed that never came, the Panthers again worked the ball to their back-line and Hannah Jones showed her class with a great break on four minutes to score the first of her hat-trick. Rees again added the extras.

The Panthers were never likely to have things all their own way and it was only down to superb defending that kept the Bears from crossing the whitewash to reduce the arrears.

Having seen off the onslaught, the Panthers kept to their game plan superbly and worked the ball well to feed back-row Alisha Butchers who burst between two defenders for a fine solo score on 34 minutes.

Rees converted to ensure the Panthers took a 21-0 lead into the interval.

They continued to play some excellent rugby after the break and with the backline now purring, created an intricate move on 41 minutes which bamboozled the Bargoed defence and saw Jones run free for a well-worked try.

Bargoed struggled to find the extra gear necessary to rescue the game, and with Laura Powell dominating the line-out they failed to muster any forward momentum.

Jones added her third touchdown on 49 minutes and Rees added the extras.

The slick panthers turned up the heat in every facet of the game, tackling ferociously and turning the ball over at every opportunity.

Butchers hacked her way to the try-line to register an impressive afternoon’s work. Rees slotted the ball straight through the uprights to take the Panthers to 40 points.

With the game all but over as a contest, the Panthers began to run riot.

The ball was worked from one side of the field to the other for winger Alaw Hughes to cap a great team try. Metronomic Rees again slotted the extras.

Bargoed threw everything they had at the Panthers and claimed a score on 78 minutes, but it was much too little, much, much too late.

Angharad Edwards claimed the Player of the Mach award, but most impressive was the Panthers collective performance.

Delighted forwards Coach Delyth Davies said: “Today was a superb example of the rewards hard work can give.

“We’ve worked these girls to the bone over the last few weeks and especially after the Lampeter performance and they delivered today.

“We spoke about the importance of taking our opportunities and I’m happy that we did just that.

“Defence is a big part of our game and to think we’ve kept a well-drilled side like Bargoed out for 78 minutes is a credit to our players.”

The Panthers host Nantyffyllon on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm)