photo by Mark Harris

The second week of the Welsh Rugby League Conference kicks off on Saturday with six of the eight teams in action.

The game of the day could well be at Blackwood where the Bulldogs face Cardiff Demons. The Demons had a great start to their season beating the Neath-Port Talbot Steelers 43-12 at their St Peters ground, their first ever win against the team formerly known as the Fighting Irish, and Cardiff player-coach Andrew Bradshaw would love to repeat that feat against the Bulldogs, another team the Demons have failed to beat before. Bradshaw said. “We have been training well for about eight weeks and all our hard work paid off against the Steelers with lots of our practiced moves coming off well and we played great as a team and showed a passion to win. We now hope to continue this good form against Blackwood, a side we have never beaten before and hold in the greatest respect”

The newly named Neath-Port Talbot Steelers, formerly known as Aberavon Fighting Irish will want to get their season back on track after they lost 43-12 to the Cardiff Demons in the opening round, they face the Newport Titans who beat

local rivals Blackwood Bulldogs. Titans player-coach Dan Clements said “We had a good win away to Blackwood last week and we blooded a number of new players and we hope to build on that win by putting in another good performance away to Steelers”.

Meanwhile reigning Champions the Bridgend Blue Bulls host West Wales Sharks at Porthcawl RFC, and despite the Sharks heavy loss to the Cougars the Bulls will still be wary of the West Wales outfit. Team Manager Simon Green said “The Sharks will be desperate to prove themselves after conceding so many points last weekend and we will certainly not be underestimating them”. Bridgend have a welcome problem ahead of the game and will be selecting their team for Saturday from a large squad. Green added “We have had over 30 guys training with us so far and everyone wants to play, but sadly only 17 can be picked and a few will be disappointed, however we hope to give everybody game time during the opening weeks of the season”.

The Valley Cougars top the table after last weekends opening round thanks to a superb 74-12 victory over the West Wales Sharks at Llanelli, which was the Cougars first win in almost two years. The Cougars will want to continue those winning ways when they entertain Torfaen Tigers at Ferndale RFC in the last game of the round.  This game has been rescheduled for Wednesday 30th May kick-off at 7:00pm.

article by Simon Green
24 May 2007