photo by Ian Lovell

The Newport Titans and Bridgend Blue Bulls remain the only two unbeaten teams in this years Welsh Rugby League Conference and both face difficult away ties this weekend.

Leaders Newport travel to St Peters RFC to take on the Cardiff Demons who are still smarting from their defeat to the West Wales Sharks last Saturday. The Titans have enjoyed a great start to the summer season with three big wins over the Bulldogs, Steelers and Cougars and will be looking to make it four out of four against Cardiff.

Titans Chairman Paul Cooper said “I think the Demons have been unlucky losing there past two games, they have a very strong side and will play much better on their home ground. Just like with our Union counterparts there is a great rivalry between us and there is no bigger or better derby clash than a game involving teams from Cardiff and Newport”.

The Demons are boosted by the return of star player Gareth Jones and he will be

desperate to make sure his men get back to winning ways and end the Titans winning run. 

The Blue Bulls face a tricky away game to the Valley Cougars at Ferndale, Bridgend make the trip without their captain Jon Purnell who is taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge, but the game will see the return of big hitting forward Anthony Isaac while half-back Austen Howells is expected to make his debut.

Cougars coach Mark Rowley said "we have a very young and enthusiastic team this year and we are all looking forward to playing against the Blue Bulls and their more experienced players like Karl Hocking and Lenny Woodard".

The Sharks will be in buoyant mood after their terrific win over the Demons where they overhauled a 24-point deficit to beat the Cardiff side 33-32 and will hope to continue their winning ways when they visit Pontypool to take on the Torfaen Tigers.

The final match and possibly the game of the day could well be at Blackwood where the Bulldogs host the Neath-Port Talbot Steelers. The Bulldogs came close to causing an upset and almost beat Bridgend last weekend and will be keen to turn their good form into a victory against the Steelers. Meanwhile the Steelers will want to repeat the performance that saw them defeat the Cougars last Saturday.

article by Simon Green
7 June 2007