photo by Ian Lovell

The Valley Cougars will be hoping to inflict more misery on the Bridgend Blue Bulls this weekend and make it four wins out of four when they travel to Porthcawl RFC to take on the reigning Champions.

The Bulls suffered there heaviest ever defeat at Blackwood last Saturday while the Cougars remain unbeaten after a 40-34 win over the Steelers. The Bulls will welcome back there captain Jon Purnell and fullback Matthew Hutchings for the clash while Pencoed RFC centre Andrew Fryer is expected to make his first start.

Bulls Team Manager Simon Green said “we had a big wake up call last Saturday, every team in Wales is improving and if we are to have any chance of re-gaining our title we are going to have to train harder and play better than ever”.

The game at Porthcawl will kick off at 12:30pm with the Union International between Wales and South Africa being shown in the clubhouse after the game.

Blackwood hope to continue from where they left off against Bridgend when they travel to Aberavon to take on the Neath-Port Talbot Steelers. A Blackwood spokesperson said “we were delighted with the big win over the Blue Bulls but we now need to concentrate on the next game and we hope to keep up the momentum with a win over the Steelers”.

Steelers Chairman James Davies said “we are looking forward to welcoming the Bulldogs and hope to improve on our last three results. We lost by just two points to the Demons and six to the Cougars but we are pleased with the way we have been playing. The majority of our squad are under 24 and we getting better with every game and we are just delighted that we have introduced a new group of youngsters to Rugby League”

There is a local derby at Newport Pil Harriers where the Newport Titans host the Cardiff Demons. Like all matches involving teams from the neighbouring cities the annual Titans v Demons clash is always a close and fiery encounter and Saturdays game will be no different.

Meanwhile at Furnace the West Wales Sharks will be hoping to pick up there first win when they host and Torfaen Tigers. Since losing heavily to the Cougars in the opening weekend the Sharks have come close to beating both the Blue Bulls and Demons and a win is not too far away.

article by Simon Green
5 June 2008