photo by Paul Hart

The Blackwood Bulldogs finished top of the Welsh Conference Table for the second year in a row beating the Bridgend Blue Bulls 18-4 in awful conditions at Porthcawl RFC.

Both teams were unbeaten going into the game and after resisting some early Bridgend pressure it was Blackwood who took an early lead when Jeremy Lloyd put in a great cross field kick on the final tackle which wing David James latched on to score out-wide.

But the Blue Bulls hit straight back when hooker Lloyd O’Connor scored after god work from Rhys Hawkins but Shaun Owens sliced the kick and the score stood at 4-4.

Both teams had chances to take the lead but the wet and slippery conditions caused many knock-ons and the game turned into a bit of a lottery, and eventually Blackwood’s numbers came up when Byron Williams set up a try for Gareth Dare which Gareth Price converted from the touchline to give the visitors a 10-4 half time lead.

Gareth Price then extended that lead early in the second half with a penalty goal. The Blue Bulls should have hit back but twice dropped the ball over the line and some

players were guilty of not passing when a try looked certain.

The Bulldogs then eventually made the Blue Bulls pay when Andre Sonoko crashed over after a charging run from former Union International Hywel Jenkins and Price again added the extras to give Blackwood an 18-4 lead.

Gareth Howells and Dai James both came close to scoring consolation tries for Bridgend but the driving rain and some fierce Blackwood tackling prevented them from crossing and Blackwood celebrated there eighth straight win.

For Blackwood Byron Williams and Hywel Jenkins were excellent while wings David James and Gareth Dare looked dangerous throughout.

In the Bulls team second row duo Gareth Howells and Daniel Smith and wing Michael Daly were the stand out players and they will hoping to gain revenge on Blackwood when they play again in the play-offs.

The teams will now face each other again next Saturday in the first v second play off match with Blackwood having home advantage.

After the game Blue Bulls Team Manager Simon Green said “we are all gutted but lost to the better side on the day, we will now re-group, work hard in training and travel up to Blackwood next weekend hoping to hit back. Parts of our game were poor but that will be put right before Saturdays game“.

article by Simon Green
26 July 2009