photo by Jane Harris

Blackwood Bulldogs set up a final day showdown with Cardiff Demons next Saturday at St Peters RFC after they beat Valley Cougars 58-26. The winner of this match will finish as Wales Conference Premier East champions but the losers could miss out on a play-off spot altogether.
 
The Bulldogs were always in control of the match with brothers David and Trevor James running the show. David ran the first in from the half-way line with Jeremy Lloyd kicking the first of his eight conversions. Trevor added a second straight from kick-off while Byron Williams scored a third on 21 minutes.

Trevor added his second having been set up by his brother on 34 minutes, adding another a minute later when Richard

Tucker caught the ball from kick-off, offloaded to Trevor who ran the full length of the field to touchdown.

Cougars got on the board in the 37th minute when Eddie Davies took advantage of an error in the defence with Ceri Cummins converting, but Trevor intercepted the kick-off and fed David who ran in to put the half-time score on 34-6.

Rhodri Jones scored from first set of the second half for a second Cougars try but a David James try and conversion restored the balance ten minutes later.
 
Debutant Daniel Dark added a further two tries for the visitors before Grenville Jones ran in their tenth from the half-way line with Trevor Jones converting to put the score on 58-10.
 
But just like in Wednesday's defeat at Torfaen the Cougars then staged a mini-comeback with three tries in the last five minutes as Blackwood tired. Neil Edwards, James Allen and Jon Breakingbury all crossing the line with Owen Lewis converting two of them.

article by Ian Golden
22 July 2006