photo by Ian Lovell

A hat trick of tries by Gerwyn Price and a faultless 11 out of 11 goal kicking display by Paul Emmanuelli was amongst the highlights on a sweltering afternoon at Glan-yr-afon Park, for this Welsh Rugby League Conference game.

The Bulldogs played some very entertaining rugby which was enough to over come a very committed Steelers outfit.

Early Blackwood pressure was rewarded when Christian Gay barged over for a try.  It was followed by an excellent try by Price, who caught his own kick ahead to go behind the posts.

At this time the Steelers were finding it hard to get out of their own half with only solid defence keeping the Bulldogs out.  The pressure finally told when David James sent Gareth Preece over in the corner, who then returned the compliment by setting James up for a try of his own.

The Steelers then got their own attacking game going, and only good work by Leighton Bassett saved a try. 

His brother Gavin then broke away, and a length of the field run was only stopped by Ed Tooley.  The ball popped up though for Craig Clements to stroll over the line.

The Steelers got on the score sheet just before half time with a well taken try by Chris Connellis, Coombs converted to give a half time score of 30-6.

The Bulldogs started the second half quickly and tries by Price, Geraint Williams, and Byron Williams stretched the lead to 48-6.

The Steelers though still wouldn't give up, and answered with a hat trick of tries of their own.  Connellis, Tooley, and Dean Scully all went over, and with them all being converted by Chris Coombs the score was back to 48-24.

Any hopes of an even bigger come back was extinguished, when the Bulldogs woke up and killed the game off.

Leighton Bassett brought the half century up with a well taken try.  Gerwyn Price then completed his hat trick before Gavin Bassett rounded the day off with the final try.  Emmanuelli converted as he did with all the other tries to give a final score of 66-24.

All in all, after hearing other results, a good day for the Bulldogs, when it was hard work drinking cider on the patio, let along playing rugby !

article by Tony Evans
9 June 2007