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The Bridgend Blue Bulls withstood a fierce second half onslaught from the Torfaen Tigers to claim a 26-14 victory in Pontypool.
The Bulls got off to a great start when a excellent break from Craig Fox lead to a try for fullback Marc Davies, Davies converted to give the visitors a six point lead and two minutes later a marvelous pass from veteran Allan Bateman saw Karl Hocking charge over to put the Blue Bulls 10-0 up with less than ten minutes gone.
But Torfaen hit back and scored a deserved try through Leigh Taylor after a quickly tapped penalty with Daniel Phillips converting, and there was worse news for Bridgend with fullback Marc Davies leaving the pitch with a hamstring injury.
Bulls wing Lenny Woodard almost intercepted a pass from Damien Hudd moments later but knocked on with the tryline begging, but Grant Epton made no mistake as he picked up a loose Torfaen pass and sprinted 70 metres to claim his tenth try of the season, Gareth David converted.
The Bulls came close to increasing that lead on a number of occasions but a comedy of errors saw Marcus Sainsbury, Carle Ellis and Matthew Wareham all either knock on or fail to ground the ball when it seemed certain they would score.
But once again the reliable Grant Epton succeeded where his team-mates had failed as he snapped up a terrific pass from Kevin Ellis to score in the corner. That gave the Bulls a 20-6 lead but Torfaens Nolan Nicklin had the final say of the half as some great passing saw the fullback cross for the Tigers second try of game and cut the deficit to ten points.
Half Time:- Torfaen Tigers 10-20 Bridgend Blue Bulls
The second half was a physical and bruising 40 minutes which saw both teams defend as if their lives depended on it, however many of the tackles were far from legal and one from a Torfaen forward completely ripped off Grant Eptons scrum cap and should have resulted in a yellow card.
It took 15 minutes into the half until the next score came when after some massive pressure Dan Williams wriggled
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his way over for the Bulls fifth try and with Marc Davies still nursing his hamstring Gareth David again converted.
Torfaen battled away brilliantly for the rest of the match and were finally rewarded with a try from prop Scott Bendan, and on numerous occasions they looked likely to score again but the Bulls defended brilliantly with Matthew Wareham, Paul Morgan and Carle Ellis excelling.
This was one of the toughest games the Bridgend Blue Bulls have played and Kevin Ellis was a relieved man after the game. The Bulls may have won the game by 12 points but Torfaen can consider themselves unlucky, had a few more passes gone to hand the outcome could have been very different. They had some class players in Damien Hudd, Daniel Phillips and Leigh Taylor and Aberavon should be very wary if Torfaen make it through to the 2nd v 3rd play-offs.
But the Bulls held on and have now won 26 games on the trot, there were particularly good displays from Paul Morgan and Carle Ellis while Dean Fitzgerald who answered a late SOS call to play was exceptional. The Bulls will also thank scrum capped speedster Grant Epton who scored two first-class tries and has now 11 tries in just five games.
On Saturday Bridgend travel to Pil Harriers RFC to take on the Newport Titans while Torfaen head off to Ystralyfera knowing that a win will see them secure third spot and a place in the 2nd v 3rd play off match v Aberavon Fighting Irish.
TORFAEN TIGERS SCORERS:
TRIES:
Leigh Taylor
Nolan Nicklin
Scott Bendan
GOALS:
Daniel Phillips
BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS SCORERS:
TRIES:
Marc Davies
Karl Hocking
Grant Epton (2)
Dan Williams
GOALS:
Marc Davies
Gareth David (2)
Article by Simon Green
22 Jul 2004
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