RGC 1404, made the perfect start at Bargoed, going ahead immediately from the kick-off through wing Pat Lewis. But Bargoed fought back within 10 minutes and replied with a try through No 8 Lewis Weyman.
Callum Jones, who ended with vital 12 points from his reliable boot, and Clayton Gullis exchanged penalties midway through the first half before Jones added two more penalties to give the home side a 14-8 half-time lead. With such a lot at stake, the game remained fast and brutal.
Pontypool camped in the home sides’ 22 for most of the second half and went close on a number of occasions. Full back Gullis skewed a penalty during the pressure and Jones made the visitors pay as he put the game to bed by adding his fourth kick of the game.
Promotion to the top tier of the game in Wales below regional level completes a remarkable transformation for Bargoed, who were floundering in the basement of the National League structure 15 years ago. Then Steve Barber and Dai Lynch joined as coaches and they have raised the club from Division 6 to the Premiership.
After winning the Championship crown last season the club weren’t able to move up because they didn’t meet the strict WRU criteria for clubs playing in the Premiership. Now they have done the work required to take their place among the elite.
As well as being a triumph for the coaching duo, it is also the culmination of a dream to resurrect the club’s fortunes first hatched by club chairman Neil Carter shortly after he hung up his boots in 2001.
“It was hard to take last year when we won the Championship but couldn’t be promoted because we didn’t have the appropriate facilities and off field arrangements. We were determined to put that right this year and a huge effort has gone in by a great team of people,” Carter told the Bargoed club website.
“We’ll enjoy this result before turning our thoughts to next season, but I’d also like to commiserate with Pontypool who put in a fantastic shift. We know how much this game meant to them and their supporters.”
