photo by Mark Tamplin

Cardiff Demons threw the Welsh Conference wide open upsetting league leaders Newport Titans 36-30 in a pulsating local derby at St. Peter’s, avenging one point defeats in each of the last two weeks.

Cardiff, who have defeated the Titans in each of their three last derby clashes, were first on the board Andy Lee went in under the posts in the second minute. But by 17 minutes Newport had established a 10-6 advantage through tries from Lloyd White and Joe Offside. The Demons, always the more expansive of the two teams hit back with an excellent handling movement in which the ball was swept from left to right through seven pairs of hands, culminating in a well taken touchdown for schools RL graduate Elliot Kear. A further try apiece by Newport’s

John Bowd and Cardiff’s Kyle Blake ensured the teams were locked at 14-14 at the break.

Newport were first to draw blood in the second half through another trademark Ross Palmer power run, but Cardiff, weathering the sin binning of Joey Davies, managed to seize control of the game. Returning stand-off Gareth Jones marshalled his troops to great effect, scoring one try engineering three more, for Paul Collette through a long kick ahead, Miles Davies after a length of the field breakaway and Rhodri Thomas after an excellent dummy.

The Demons found themselves 36-20 up with sixteen minutes to play but the Titans, mindful that the home side had surrendered a 24 point lead just one week earlier were able to regroup for a final charge. Joe Offside scored in the corner when the ball was worked out to the right and Ross Palmer found space for a further try to bring the score back to 36-30, spelling an exciting finale. But Cardiff were in no mood to give up their hard won advantage and their Indian sign over their neighbours continues as they held on for a well deserved victory.

article by Simon Davies
9 June 2007