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| Round 2 Conference Preview | ||
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Saturday in Abercynon sees one of Wales’ most fiercely contested rugby league derby matches of the season as Valley Cougars face Taff’s Well-based Cardiff Demons in the second round of the Welsh Conference Premier. The Cougars’ first match at Torfaen Tigers two weeks ago was postponed due to the weather so they have still yet to start their season properly, but the Demons have had a fantastic start to the campaign winning their first league match against Newport Titans 32-26 two weeks ago, then last Sunday, won the third annual CymruRL Scott McRorie Nines tournament at Blackwood RFC. Andrew Bradshaw of the Demons said: “We’re looking good, this has been a great start to the season for us, beating Newport and then winning a major trophy. We were the only team to win all their games last week and were the deserved winners of the tournament. I’ve a feeling we’re going to have a good season.” Saturday’s match has been moved from the Cougars’ regular Sardis Road ground to Abercynon RFC because the pitch in Pontypridd is being returfed. Matches between these two clubs are always tense exciting games and this one should be no different. The Cougars currently hold the upper hand in games won (not counting last week’s nine a side match), with the score at three games to two in their favour. Can the Demons level things up? Find out at Abercynon RFC on Saturday. Kick-off is 2.30pm. The other match in the East sees newcomers Blackwood Bulldogs travel to Newport Titans’ Pil Harriers RFC ground. The Bulldogs are the official rugby league arm of Blackwood RFC and have embraced their new venture into the 13-man code. |
Blackwood assistant coach, Roger Moore is very excited about the new direction for his club. Moore said: “We’re excited but apprehensive at the same time as this will be our first match and we’re literally treading into the unknown. This season, we’ll be facing sides that have been playing rugby league a while but we had a good start in the Nines tournament last week by beating Bridgend Blue Bulls to reach the semi-finals. “Hosting the prestigious Scott McRorie Nines was a coup for the club. It’s raised the awareness of rugby league in Blackwood and has helped us to recruit players from a few clubs in the area. “We’ve lots of respect for the established clubs such as Newport and Cardiff who started the competition and have successfully kept it going. I hope we can join them in being an established side and the first step to that will be putting in a good performance at Newport on Saturday.” On Sunday the Bridgend Blue Bulls welcome the Swansea Valley Miners at Maesteg's Old Parish Ground for a midday kick off in a curtain raiser to the Celtic Crusaders crucial match with Keighley Cougars. The Miners will be hoping to add to Bridgend’s woes and continue the good form they showed in beating the West Wales Sharks 42-6 two weeks ago. The Miners will be captained by Andrew Jenkins who will be well known by the Bulls team from his time with the Bridgend Ravens. Dean Clansey is likely to keep the kicking duties after a fine performance v the Sharks and the experienced Chris Beck is also likely to start. Bridgend meanwhile are in unfamiliar territory going into the game having lost their opening match to Aberavon 50-32. But the Bulls are in confident mood and are determined to get back to winning ways. Paul Smithson is likely to start at stand-off after impressing in last weekends Blackwood 9s tournament while wing Richard Radford and former Fijian International Tevita Manaseitava are likely to make their debuts. The Bulls also welcome back forwards Paul Morgan, Craig Voisey and Nathan Strong. Article by Ian Golden & Simon Green
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