Torfaen Tigers played host to last years league leaders in their first home game of the 2009 Welsh Conference Premier but Blackwood Bulldogs were the ones who went away with the two points with an impressive 68-32 victory.

Torfaen scored a try at either end of the first half with Jamie Williams virtually from the kick off and Nolan Nicklin at the death after a ten minute spell in the sin bin.  Darryl Carters conversion gave them a ten point tally. 

Between the scores the game was all Blackwood as the Bulldogs put on a clinical display.  First up was Gareth Price with the first of his five tries, followed by Kristian Perry and Matthew Mcgovern.  The pick of the bunch with some great handling saw Chris Winnel finish off with a touchdown in the corner and the Bulldogs scoring completed with score from Alex Borgese.  Three conversions from Price brought the score at the break to 10-26.

In stark contrast the beginning of the

second half saw the Tigers respond in the best possible way with three quick tries to level the scores.  Liam Jeffers started things off with further scores from Richard Jenkins and Matt Davies.  Two conversions from Carter levelled the scores at twenty six a piece.

This seemed to motivate the Bulldogs to come out of their shell as they responded with four unanswered tries to open up a twenty point lead. Arron Elloitt picked up one and Price picked up another three along with two goals.

The Tigers scored again from Gareth James and a conversion from Carter but it only temporarily stemmed the tide as Blackwood finished on a high with a further four tries.  Gareth Dare, Anthony Symmons and Luke Knight all scored and Price picked up another and his three conversions gave the Bulldogs an emphatic 68-32 win which puts them firmly at top of the conference.

article by Mark Harris
19 June 2009