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A bumper crowd at Taffs Well RFC, swelled by supporters visiting Wales for the Powergen Challenge Cup Final, witnessed a see-saw game of rugby league tipped in favour of Aberavon by Dean Scully's last minute penalty.
Cardiff took an early lead from a Gareth Jones drop goal but the Fighting Irish responded with a Paul Morgan try from a clever chip and chase. Ross Olney went in from short range to put the Demons 7-6 in front on seventeen minutes, but four minutes later Morgan got his second for Aberavon to restore their five point advantage. An unconverted try from Demons Juniors graduate Kyle Blake, his first at this level, brought the Demons back to 11-12 and two minutes later the Demons regained the lead with a Martin Thomas try in the corner. Glen Phillips extended the Cardiff advantage to nine on thirty-five minutes with a try masterminded by Wayne Williams, but a late Richard Lewis try kept Aberavon in the hunt trailing 21-16 at the break.
Surprisingly, the second half remained scoreless until Gary Vaughan's 58th minute try made it 21-20. But the Demons hit back five minutes later when James Madden dived for the line on fifth tackle and Gareth Jones converted for a seven point lead. Cardiff remained in charge until 71 minutes when a 50 yard sprint by man-of-the-match Mark Burke allowed the Fighting Irish to close within a point.
Both teams attacked in the dying minutes but the game was decided when Aberavon were awarded a penalty twenty-five metres out which captain Dean Scully duly kicked to the delight of the away support, condemning Cardiff to another narrow defeat in a game they could easily have won.
TAFFS WELL RFC, FRI 14th MAY 7pm
Scorers:
Cardiff Demons: Tries: Ross Olney, Kyle Blake, Martin Thomas,
Glen Phillips, Jamie Madden, Goals: Gareth Jones (3), Drop Goals:
Gareth Jones.
Aberavon Fighting Irish: Tries: Paul Morgan (2), Richard Lewis,
Gary Vaughan, Mark Burke, Goals: Dean Scully (4).
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Teams
Cardiff Demons
1 Martin PEARCE
2 Idris EVANS
3 Sion WILLIAMS
4 Gary HOWELL
5 Martin THOMAS
6 Gareth JONES
7 Wayne WILLIAMS
8 Graham HUGHES
9 Kyle BLAKE
10 Paul DAVEY
11 Ross OLNEY
12 Gareth MORGAN
13 John BYERS
14 Andrew JONES
15 Lewis FRANCES
16 Glen PHILLIPS
17 James MADDEN
18* Tom BROWN
Aberavon Fighting Irish
1 David DYER
2 Gary VAUGHAN
3 Ricky PRICE
4 Dean SCULLY
5 Richard LEWIS
6 Paul MORGAN
7 Scot O'Kelly
8 Simon BAILEY
9 Mark BURKE
10 Andy LLEWELLYN
11 Charles NEWMAN
12 Lee IMPERATO
13 Steffan EDWARDS
14 Andrew SUTER
15 Geraint DAVIES
16 Toni SMITH
17 Paul BREEZE
18* Greg DIX
Referee: Andy Howe (Scarborough)
Game Breaker: Mark Burke's breakway try nine minutes from time
brought the Irish close enough to snatch vicotry with Dean Scully's
late penalty.
PR Man of the Match: Mark Burke (Aberavon): 18 year old hooker showed
why he is a bright prospect in Welsh Rugby League, Wayne Willims
(Cardiff): Demons' player coach slotted in at scrum half and never gave
up the fight.
Attendance. 350
Location: Taffs Well Rugby Club.
Scoring Sequence
G Jones (CD) drop goal 2 mins 1-0
P Morgan (AFI) try converted by D Scully 13 mins 1-6
R Olney (CD) try converted by G JOnes 17 mins 7-6
P Morgan (AFI) try converted by D Scully 21 mins 7-12
K Blake (CD) try, no conversion 26 mins 11-12
M Thomas (CD) try, no conversion 28 mins 15-12
G Phillips (CD) try converted by G Jones 35 mins 21-12
R Lewis (AFI) try, no conversion 38 mins 21-16
G Vaughan (AFI) try, no conversion 58 mins 21-20
J Madden (CD) try converted by G Jones 65 mins 27-20
M Burke (AFI) try converted by D Scully 71 mins 27-26
D Scully (AFI) penalty goal 78 mins 27-28
* Both teams had 18 players available by mutual agreement confirmed
with the referee.
Article by Simon Davies
15 May 2004
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