photo by Ian Lovell

The Bridgend Blue Bulls won a 14 try thriller against reigning Welsh Champions Valley Cougars at Nelson RFC to take top spot in the Wales Conference League table.
 
The Bulls almost scored in the second minute when prop James Elton side stepped two tackles but his pass was intercepted by Paul Emmanuelli.
 
But just minutes later former Celtic Crusader Grant Epton marked his return to a Blue Bulls jersey with a great run that resulted in a score for centre Karl Davies with Jamie Murphy converting for a 6-0 lead.
 
But the Cougars hit straight back thanks to another former Crusader in Phil Cushion, the prop handing off two tacklers to score an unconverted try.
 
The scores stayed the same till the 23rd minute when Tylon Mafi broke through the Cougars defence to send his captain Lloyd O'Connor scampering to the tryline. The Bulls then furthered there lead when a great cross field kick from Murphy resulted in a try for Epton to make it 16-4 to the Bulls.
 

Craig Fox then made an immediate impact coming off the bench and scoring two quick tries, the second after a barging run from Daniel Smith and Murphy converted both to make it 28-4.

But the final score in the first half went to Cougars Rhodri Morris to make it 28-8 at half time. 
 
The Cougars drew first blood early on in the second half thanks to a Carl Thomas try but a length of the field score from the excellent Gareth Howells made in 36-12 with Matthew Hutchings adding the extras.
 
The Valley Cougars then put in a superb 20 minute spell and took full advantage of some Bridgend indiscipline with Liam Williams, Adrian Owen and Dafydd Hielland all scoring and Carl Thomas adding all three conversions to bring the home side to within just four points and it seemed like a great comeback was on.
 
But a superb solo score from Murphy put Bridgend two scores up before a break from Christiaan Roets sent Nathan Strong under the posts with Murphy and Cameron Shannon adding the goals to make it 46-30.
 
After the game victorious captain Lloyd O'Connor said "we always knew it was going to be tough up here and the Cougars fought back well in the second half after our discipline let us down. But we are delighted with the win and to get revenge on a team we haven't beaten for two years".

article by Simon Green
07 June 2009