photo by Ian Lovell

An under-strength Bridgend Blue Bulls went out of the Harry Jepson Trophy in the semi-final stage for the second year running after crashing 42-16 to a strong St Albans side at Bristol Sonics RLFC on Sunday.

St Albans took the lead on seven minutes when Tom Pritchard fed Russ Kelleway to ground in the corner.

But Bridgend equalised three minutes later when following a penalty, Aaron Warner also went over in the corner.

The Bulls looked to have taken the lead straight from kick-off after Christiaan Roets ran 90 metres to the line, but the referee ruled it out for a forward pass.

Centurions took advantage of their good fortune as Dene Miller ran over with Tom Pritchard converting on 20 minutes and Kelleway slipped through for his second on the half-hour with Pritchard converting once again.

Centurions' Kristian Warne was sinbinned for fighting but Bridgend failed to take advantage of the extra man.

In fact it was Miller who ran over for two more tries, his hat-trick clincher being a 70-metre run. Pritchard converted the latter to give Centurions' a 26-4 lead.

The half-time score could have been even higher but the referee disallowed Chris True's effort for a forward pass.

Bridgend got back into the game on 45 minutes when Marcus Sainsbury set up

Roets to run home. Warner converted.

But True fed Nick Surtees to score for St Albans ten minutes later.

Bridgend struck back again when former Wales and Lions’ dual-code international Allan Bateman took advantage of the wind and pounced on a loose ball to score. Warner converted to put the Bulls within 14.

But a Richard Smith try moments later followed by a Jack Cornthwaite effort, both converted by Pritchard made the final score 16-42.

Bridgend Blue Bulls
1 Marc Davies
2 Aaron Warner
3 Alan Bateman
4 Christiaan Roets
5 David James
6 Lloyd O'Connor 
7 Craig Fox
8 Anthony Isaac
9 Dan Williams
10 Jon Purnell
11 Griff Davies
12 Tevita Manaseitava
13 Simon Mustoe
14 Gareth Hopkins
15 Ross Megraw
16 Matthew Morgan
17 Marcus Sainsbury

St Albans Centurions
1 Kristian Warne
2 Chris True
3 Russ Kelleway
4 Dene Miller
5 Oliver Fountain
6 Shane Rampling
7 Dan Wortley
8 Andrew Lake
9 Richard Smith
10 Nick Surtees
11 Tom Pritchard
12 Paul Maloney
13 Marc Wrenn
14 Roy Dube
15 Adam Cox
16 Peter Chapman
17 Jack Cornthwaite

article by Ian Golden
2 September 2007