photo by Mark Harris

Torfaen Tigers came out on top with a 34-30 victory against the West Wales Sharks in a thriller at Pontypool United that saw the lead change no less than eight times.

West Wales Sharks buoyant from their spectacular second half victory against the Cardiff Demons last week drew first blood, in the second minute, with a try from Jonathon Griffiths who converted his own score.  Eight minutes later the Tigers responded with a try by Dan Preece converted by Matt Entwhistle levelling the score.

The team traded tries; the first from the Sharks by Adam Jones followed by Craig Sulway for the Tigers the difference being

the conversion by the Sharks Jonathon Griffiths.  The Tigers opened up a gap with a score from Damien Smith but the Sharks immediately struck back with a try by Mark Cooke again converted by Griffiths.  The Tigers had the last say in the first half with a score and a conversion by Matt Entwhistle bringing the half time score to 20-18.

The Sharks Dave Norman took back the lead with a try early in the second half which was easily converted by Griffiths. Just four minutes later the lead changed again with a try from Chris Baldwin converted by Entwhistle, who also kicked a penalty to extend the lead. 

Mark Cooke got his second of the game with four minutes to go and the conversion gave what appeared to be the winner for the Sharks.

It took the try of the match to settle the game as Entwhistle broke from his own twenty metre line and offloaded five metres from the Sharks line to Gareth-John Jones who also converted for the win.

article by Mark Harris
9 June 2007