photo by Ian Lovell

The Valley Cougars came out on top 44-26 in a great advert for free flowing summer rugby at Nelson RFC securing a home fixture against the Newport Titans in the Welsh Conference Premier semi finals next weekend.

As the teams tested out each others defences early in the game Ross Coombes got the Cougars off to the ideal start with Ceri Cummins picking up the first of his six two pointers.  The Steelers responded with a try from Richard Lewis before the Cougars struck again with a Ceri Cummins try which he converted himself.

Ross Coombes struck again to stretch the lead for the Cougars but the deficit was

reduced just before the break as Richard Lewis picked up his second try making the score a nicely balanced at 18-8.

Straight from the kick off the Steelers showed some slick handling and Richard Lewis flew over for his hat trick and with the conversion by Dan Bleddyn the Steelers closed the gap to four.

This seemed to spur the Cougars into life who replied with three unanswered tries from Scott Belmont, Mark Powell and the pick of the bunch from Stephen Parry with Cummins converting one.

The Steelers closed the gap with a converted Chris Cornelius try before the Cougars killed off the game with Stephen Parrys second of the day and Tom Rees with Cummins converting both.

Dan Bleddyn picked up a consolation try for the Steelers in the dying minutes converting it himself but it was the Valley Cougars who progress to the semi final with a final score of 44-26.

article by Mark Harris
26 July 2008