Demons secure home tie in shield
The Demons secured fifth place in the Welsh Conference and a home time in next week’s playoffs with an expansive performance against the in-form Valley Cougars.

The Cougars started the stronger and were six points up on six minutes through Rhodri Morris, but good work from Pete Moore set up Anthony Loxton for the equaliser seven minutes later. An excellent run from man of the match Idris Evans starting almost on his own line set up Jamie Iles twenty metres out for a fine try, and the Demons extended their lead to 18-6 through Gareth Jones.

But the Cougars drew to within two on the half hour after tries from Rhodri Morris and Alun Williams, but further Demons scores just before the break from Andy Jones and Karl Jones gave Cardiff a 28-16 half time lead.

With both sides desperate for the win, the second half opened with a war of attrition, only broken on 56 minutes when Idris Evans galloped through heavy traffic to touch down. Geraint George pulled one back for the Cougars, but Neil Thomas went in from short range to make it 40-20

and Rhodri Thomas went in from the half way line to put the Demons out of danger. But the Valley side came back with two late tries in the last ten minutes Mukeseli Jones and Stuart Williams. Gareth Jones crowned a near-flawless kicking performance with a last minute penalty for the 48-30 win which lifts Cardiff above Swansea Valley into a fifth place finish, and ensures the Demons a home game against the Miners in next week’s playoff opener.

Assistant Coach Anthony Loxton was relieved at the win “The last three games we’ve led at half time only to end up losing, I was pleased that today we kept our concentration and had a good second half. After our narrow defeat at Swansea last time out we’ll relish the chance to get revenge next week.’

DEMONS T: Loxton, Iles, G Jones, A Jones, C Jones, Evans, R Thomas, N Thomas. G: G Jones (8)

COUGARS T: R Morris (2), A Williams, George, M Jones, S Williams. G: A Williams, Emmanueli (2).

Article by Simon Davies
24 Jul 2004