photo by Mark Harris

The Valley Cougars are the first team to book their place in this years Welsh Conference Premier grand final with a 32-30 victory over last years beaten finalists in a absolute thriller at Nelson RFC.

Both sides looked nervous in the early stages of the game and it took ten minutes for the Cougars to make the initial breakthrough with top try scorer Stephen Parry touching down to give the home team a four point advantage. With their tails up Tom Rees scored five minutes later to double the lead. 

Newport managed to steady the ship and on the half hour mark got their first points on the board with a Scott Morasco try which was converted by Ross Palmer. The Cougars immediately replied with a try from James Allen to re-establish the advantage but the half ended all square at 12-12 as Ieuen Morris crossed the line under the sticks which was converted again by Palmer.

After a tight first half the teams started to relax in the second throwing the ball around more and showing some great skills. It was the Cougars who hit the front again at 55 minutes as Parry picked up his second of the game which was this time converted by Ceri Cummins. 

The Titans responded in dramatic style taking a strangle hold on the game scoring three unanswered tries in a ten minute period.  The first from Ross Palmer was quickly followed by Ieuen Morris’s second of the game and the third from Captain Mark Wheeler.  All three were converted by Palmer giving the away team a commanding 18-30 lead with ten minutes remaining.

The Valley Cougars heads seemed to go down but an inspired try from Tom Rees three minutes later gave them hope and seemed to spur them on.  The next set saw Stephen Parry pick up his hat trick and Cummins conversion put the Cougars within two and five minutes to play.

The game was sealed with two minute to go as Tom Rees flew over the line to give the home side the lead. The kick was unconverted but the clock ran down with the Cougars winning 32-30.

The Valley Cougars won’t know who they will face in next weeks final for another twenty four hours when the unbeaten Blackwood Bulldogs host the Cardiff Demons in another potentially mouth watering semi final.

This weekends semi final winners will meet in the final next Sunday at the Brewery field kicking off at 1pm.  The game is one in a huge day for Rugby League taking place in Bridgend next Sunday. The day starts with at 11:30 with the under 13s grand final followed by the Welsh Conference grand final and finishing off with Super League bound Celtic Crusaders facing Leigh Centurions at 4:10pm.

article by Mark Harris
2 August 2008