photo by Andrew Smith

The Blackwood Bulldogs and Valley Cougars may have secured first and second spots respectively but there is still a lot to play for in the Welsh Conference as teams face their final games before the play-offs.

Having finished top Blackwood will receive a bye into the semi-finals while second placed Cougars will get a home quarter final game against seventh placed NPT Steelers.

The sides finishing in third and fourth will also receive home draws in the quarters and four teams are battling for those positions.

On Saturday the Newport Titans will have to defeat the unbeaten Blackwood Bulldogs away if they are to have any chance of getting a home tie and will be hoping the table toppers take it easy having already secured top spot.

But that is unlikely as the Bulldogs are determined to become only the second team go unbeaten and there Chairman Andrew Smith said “we have been delighted the way this season has gone, we have worked really hard all summer

but what has happened has been the result of three years hard work in which we have developed a great team”

On Sunday, at Porthcawl RFC Bridgend Blue Bulls host the Torfaen Tigers. The winner will guarantee themselves third and a quarter final home draw against either the Titans or Cardiff Demons while the Blue Bulls could slip out of the top four if they are defeated.

Bridgend look likely to stick with most of the youngsters who played so well in the 38-36 away win over Newport last week including 16 year old centre Nathan Hawkins, while they also welcome back forwards Tevita Manaseitava and Simon Mustoe.

Torfaen however will be in high spirits after a good win midweek and will be determined to become the first team ever to beat the Blue Bulls at their Porthcawl home.

Elsewhere the Wales Students play New Zealand in the Student World Cup 3rd, 4th place playoff in the early hours of Saturday morning. The put up a great performance against Australia which wasn't quite enough to get them into the final.

On Sunday Wales A travel to Hull to play England A knowing that a win will give them the championship without any of the other teams playing each other.

article by Simon Green
17 July 2008