photo by Mark Harris

The Valley Cougars inflicted a heavy opening day defeat on the West Wales Sharks by running in 15 tries to register a first Conference victory since 2005.

Lee Williams scored 26 points for the Ferndale-based side as they went on to win 74-12 against a developing Sharks side, who could only manage to breach their visitors’ lines on two occasions, at a windy Llanelli Wanderers Rugby Club.

Cougars’ stand-off Owen Lewis got the ball rolling on 6 minutes as he capitalised on the Sharks losing possession to cross over for the try, while Wales international Williams duly converted to make it 6-0. Three minutes later the visitors were awarded a penalty five metres out with the end product a try from James Allen but Williams missing the kick (10-0).

After a solid spell from the Sharks they fell further behind mid-way through the half when Williams offloaded the ball to Owen Lewis to score underneath the posts while Williams was successful with the conversion (16-0). The centre added to his tally six minutes later after running the whole length of the pitch to touch

down and convert in front of the posts (22-0).

The hosts did pull it back to 22-6 shortly before the break, Adam Jones the scorer of the try with Jonathon Griffiths adding a further two points, but two further tried in quick succession saw the Cougars take a 32-6 lead into half-time. Ross Lucas and Lee Williams crossed over in the corners and the latter was successful in converting his own try.

A manic opening quarter of an hour to the second period saw the Cougars score 28 points to increase their lead to 60-6. Ross Lucas started to inflict this miserable spell on the Carmarthenshire side with a try after just 40 seconds, while Liam Williams, Steve Parry, John Breakingbury and two tries in as many minutes from Steve Chappell inflicted further misery on the Sharks (two of the six tries converted by Williams).

Williams crossed over for his hat-trick mid-way through the half, and kicked successfully (66-6) before Liam Williams took his sides tally to 70 points after crossing over in the corner (kick unsuccessful).

Daniel Griffiths restored some pride for the home side with a try 10 minutes before the end, with the scrum-half converting to make it 70-12, but it was Ross Lucas who had the final say as he touched down to score his hat-trick. Williams, kicking into the wind for the majority of the second-half, was a bit short with the conversion but the Cougars were worthy 74-12 winners in this one-sided affair.

article by Owain Johns
19 May 2007