photo by Ian Lovell

In a second week of matches in this years Welsh Rugby League Conference the Cardiff Demons just failed to capitalize on their good start against the Steelers last week going down 20-26 at home to the Blackwood Bulldogs with the Gwent team holding off a spirited fight back from the Cardiff team.

An early try from Bulldog Gerwyn Price was followed up with Gareth Price scoring after a great pass Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd, who also kicked three goals tested the Cardiff defense throughout and he was involved in the build up again when Gavin Bassett scored to give Blackwood a 14-0 halftime lead.

Bassett got a second just after the break but the Demons hit back through centre Paul Bartlett. Blackwood extended there lead once again with a Byron Williams try before Cardiff almost pulled off a great comeback. Tries from Graham Hughes and Andrew Bradshaw narrowed the gap to 10 points and late on Matt Morrissy crossed in the corner to narrow the gap to six. But the comeback was too late and Blackwood held on.

At Trimsaran a much changed Blue Bulls side beat the West Wales Sharks 32-24 in an exciting and hard fought match. The Bridgend team contained just three of the players who appeared in last years Welsh Final and fielded a host of new youngsters who did the team proud.

Bridgend captain Jon Purnell got his team off to a great start with a try after five minutes which Gareth David converted from the touchline but Sharks fullback Dai Norman hit straight back with a great score which was converted by Jonathon Griffiths to make it 6-6.

The scores remained level until the 25th minute when the game really came to life with Bridgend scoring three tries in seven minutes. Good work from forwards Lewis Tutt and Idris Hanmer sent Lloyd O’Connor over the first before some excellent passing from Steve Hearne and David James sent Rob Smithson over for a debut try, then O’Connor grabbed a second with Gareth David converting two to give the Bulls a 22-6 lead.

Sharks Chris Keeny got one back for the home team but the final score of the half went to Michael John who shrugged off four tacklers and ran 40 metres with just one shoe for the Bulls fifth score and they took a 26-10 lead into half time.

Both sides came close to scoring in the second half before a great kick and chase from Gareth David saw the stand-off claim Bridgends sixth and give the reigning Champions a 22 point lead.

Many at the game thought the floodgates may open but the Sharks fought back brilliantly scoring three unanswered tries. Jonathon Griffiths claimed the first before Dai Norman claimed hi second with a long dazzling run and the final score went to Sharks forward Dylan Jones to make the final score 24-32

In the days other matches the Valley Cougars continued there great start to the season with a 44-36 victory over the Torfaen Tigers at Pontypool while the Neath-Port Talbot Steelers fell to there second successive defeat going down 40-26 to the Newport Titans.