photo by Ian Lovell

The second round of the 2007 Co-operative Welsh Conference Premier rugby league saw two of the planned four games being played on Saturday.  The game between Valley Cougars and the Tigers had already been rescheduled for 30 May but due to unforeseen circumstances the game between the Blue Bulls and Sharks was postponed at the eleventh hour.

Newport Titans ground out a hard fought 30-12 win against a spirited Neath Port Talbot Steelers at Green Stars RFC to take them to the top of the Welsh Conference.

Newport dominated the scoring in the first

half with tries from Kirk Johnson, John Bowd and a pair from Tyrone Mahoney.

The second half was a far more even affair with both sides scoring two tries each and only the conversions separating the teams.

The Titans head the Conference until at least Wednesday when the first round leaders, the Valley Cougars, hope to consolidate first position when they take on the Tigers at Ferndale.

In Blackwood the Bulldogs held a late charge from the Demons to bag the two points with a 19-18 win.

Both teams had periods of pressure but strong defence and a slippery ball on a damp afternoon was the order of the day.  The Bulldogs headed to the break with a 16-8 advantage.  They added to this with a penalty and a drop goal before the Demons fought back with two late tries. In the end the drop goal proved to be the difference.

Full reports here