photo by Ian Lovell

There could be a potential classic on Saturday as Newport Titans visit Blackwood RFC in the Picton Jones and Costley and Partners Premier Welsh Conference (kick-off 2.30pm).

New boys, Blackwood Bulldogs beat league leaders Cardiff Demons 36-24 in their last game two weeks ago, while the Titans lost to the Demons 32-38 in a thriller at Pill Harriers last week. A win for Blackwood on Saturday will lift them into joint second place with Newport in the Eastern table but with a game in hand on their Gwent rivals.

But Blackwood assistant coach Roger Moore says that the play-offs would be a bonus for what has already been a successful first season for the club.

“We’re keeping our feet on the ground here and respecting everybody we play,” said Moore. “We’re not expecting anything this season apart from building on the interest in rugby league that has already started in Blackwood. It’s all about gettingpeople here to the match and to enjoy the day. Our aim is to make sure

that we are competitive and make the opposition work hard and if they’re not on top of their game, then we can hopefully get a result.

“We played against Newport in our very first match and we came close to winning as we led for quite a while. It was only inexperience that cost us in the end and we got a lot of positives from that match that we can hopefully take into this week’s.”

Meanwhile at St Peters RFC, top of the table Cardiff Demons are looking to move one step further to a play-off place by beating bottom side Valley Cougars who have yet to win this season (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Demons are having their best campaign in three years and player-chairman Andrew Bradshaw believes he knows the reason why.

Bradshaw said: “We’ve got more of a mature squad this year and we’re coming together as one, we’re playing more as a team and we’re also having same team week in week out and not making loads of positional changes. The team also seem to want it more as well - the attitude this year is stronger than in previous seasons. We’re looking forward to Saturday’s match and to a night out afterwards at match sponsor Que Pasa.”

In the only game in the Western conference this  weekend West Wales Sharks host Aberavon Fighting Irish at New Dock Stars RFC on Saturday.

The Sharks have lost their last two games to Aberavon and are currently bottom of the table. But Sharks boss, Paul Prendiville says that morale is still high in the camp.

Prendiville said: "The boys are really enjoying playing rugby league - it is hard to adapt but they are doing well. We have lost games because of some sloppy mistakes, but we will learn from that and improve. We have not won yet, but there will be huge celebrations when we do. After coming home from a recent game, the boys were still positive after losing - you would have thought we had won by the positivity in the squad.

"It is important the boys are enjoying and learning the game. We also hope that we can attract more and more people watching us play at New Dock Stars RFC. We have had decent enough crowds, but with three home games left, we are hoping to attract a considerable amount more than what we have already.

"The support we have had from businesses in the town has been fantastic. I have approached a number of firms for a little bit of financial help, and no-one has turned us down. That shows there is support for rugby league in the town - hopefully we can repay everyone by winning at least two of our remaining games."

article by Ian Golden
5 July 2006