photo by Ian Lovell

Torfaen Tigers just about deserved to win this blood and thunder Gwent derby at the Memorial Ground.

Torfaen started well, playing down the slope, and only solid defence kept them out.  There were signs of things to come, even then,  with a series of scuffles, resulting in both captains being given a general warning for their sides.

A mistake by the Tigers, on their own scrum, let Gavin Bassett break away, who fed David James, who out paced the defence to score under the posts.

Paul Emmanuelli converted, and he then added a penalty.

After another punch up, the referee finally lost patience and sin binned Leigh Taylor and Nick Tucker.

It seemed to settle the Tigers more, and after a break by Damien Smith, Tim Tillings scored in the corner.  They followed that with a Gavin Jenkins try

when he caught the Blackwood defence napping.  Matthew Entwhistle converted both to give Torfaen a 12-8 lead.

Playing up the slope seemed to galvanise Torfaen, and they extended their lead when Jamie Williams strolled over with Blackwood defenders looking at each other.

A double sending off finally drew a line under the fighting, and a game of rubgy broke out.  The Blackwood backs went wide, and after good handling,  Dan Tucker sent Geraint Williams on the overlap, and brought the Bulldogs back into the game.  Gavin Bassett then side stepped through the defence and suddenly Blackwood were level at 18 - 18.

Torfaen showed now they are a bit more street wise at the moment, 3 times stealing the play the ball on their own line, and getting out of trouble.

Led in this by the excellent Jason Hill, who followed that by scoring a smart try, which Entwhistle again converted.

Chris Baldwin then sealed the game to the delight of the home crowd.  Emmanuelli then engineered a consulation score for Grant Robson with a neat nip and chase.  He converted to keep up his 100% kicking record, along with Entwhistles'.  All in all an excellent, if fiesty encounter, of which the players and fans all enjoyed!

article by Tony Evans
24 June 2007