Following their exit from the Premiership Cup the previous Saturday, Brecon travelled to Bargoed seeking to restore some momentum in the league.

But this was never going to be an easy task and Brecon returned home empty handed.

There could be no question about the fact that Bargoed started the better of the two teams.

For 15 minutes Brecon were under pressure and Bargoed soon opened the scoring. Flanker Keaton Davies peeled off the tail and fed powerful centre, Callum Jones, who cut a great line at the heart of the Brecon defence. After a series of forward drives, the hosts moved the ball wide for lively winger, Rhys Thomas to score.

Almost immediately, Bargoed scored their second try. It was a devastating blow which started with Brecon’s first foray into the Bargoed half. Brecon gained some ground through a number of phases in midfield and then went wide, only for the final long miss pass to be picked off by Thomas and for him to race some 60 metres to score his second try.

Brecon could easily have been demoralised at this point but instead they lifted their game. For the remaining 20 minutes of the half they took control and created chances, but not until the last minute of the half did a score come.

After a Brecon steal on their own 10-metres line, the ball was moved through the hands before Jack Dixon cut through the defence and found Geraint Walsh on the inside, who ran in for the try.

James Dixon converted, leaving Brecon just three points adrift at half-time.

Brecon started the second half as they ended the first, attacking deep in Bargoed territory, but it was the same story.

This time their line-out let them down as three throws in good positions went astray.

Barcoeg soon scored again after centre, Matthew Lewis picked off a pass on his own 10-metre line to run in unopposed.

Brecon almost responded immediately after good play down the left before giving away a penalty at the breakdown.

From there Bargoed reasserted themselves and scored again, this time through winger, Ashley Norton.

Brecon were now 17 points down with 10 minutes to play, but they didn’t give up. After a second five-metre line-out and failed attempts to drive over they moved the ball and Sam Jones looped outside Jake Newman to score, with Newman converting.

Now with the last play Brecon were trying to get something out of the game and running from deep. But the ball was again intercepted and moved to Rhys Thomas for the wing to score his hat-trick of tries and again the conversion was good to seal the defeat.

To rub salt into the wound the news of Brecon Athletic’s 10-11 home defeat to Bargoed arrived. That had been a brave fight with Brecon reduced to 14 men for much of the second half, but rounded off what had been a good afternoon for Bargoed and a sobering one for Brecon.