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Blue Bulls 48 Fighting Irish 8
Blue Bulls cruise pas Irish to secure top spot
The Bridgend Blue Bulls continued their amazing unbeaten run and guaranteed themselves a place in the Welsh Grand Final by destroying Aberavon Fighting Irish 48-8 at Maesteg RFC’s Old Parish Ground.

The Bulls scored 10 tries in all with Karl Hocking, Grant Epton and Carle Ellis scoring two each.

Bridgend got off to a great start with a an early try from Dan Shore but the Fighting Irish looked the better team early on and only some terrific tackling kept them from scoring, and when it seemed certain Aberavon were going to score when the ball was intercepted by Nathan Strong who passed out to Dai Owen and the centre then went on a spectacular run to score an amazing solo try, dodging and shrugging off half a dozen tackles as he raced to the line. Marc Davies converted to give his team a 10-0 lead.

Jason Massey then went on an equally good run for the Fighting Irish but the pass to wing David Dyer was knocked on with the tryline begging. But a 2nd break from Massey saw centre Geraint Davies claim Aberavons 1st try of the game, and they almost got a 2nd moments later but hooker Craig Fox intercepted the try scoring pass.

Matthew Wareham then had a try disallowed for the Bulls for a forward pass but Kevin Ellis’ side managed to score two more tries late on through Grant Epton and Karl Hocking with Marc Davies adding a conversion to give the Bridgend Blue Bulls a 20-4 half time lead.

The 2nd half was only two minutes old when the Bulls claimed their 5th try, which was awarded to Lenny Woodard when despite being falling short of the line he stretched out his long arm and just made it to the whitewash.

But Aberavon showed their Fighting Irish spirit and got a deserved try soon after through prop Andy Llewellyn to make it 28-8. But the Blue Bulls were in determined mood and two great passes from Kevin Ellis put his brother Carle over for two tries in as many minutes and moments later fullback Marc Davies
 

crossed the line after an comical backward pass from Dan Williams. The  men in Green were then put away for good as wing Grant Epton crossed again as the Bulls scored a remarkable four tries in just seven minutes.

To round things off Karl Hocking claimed his 2nd and the Bulls 10th try in the final minute of the game and Dai Owen converted to give the reigning Harry Jepson Champions a 48-8 victory.

Before the match Kevin Ellis had installed Aberavon as favourites but the Bulls turned on the style and played some superb Rugby. Kevin was once again the catalyst of most of the Bridgend moves while his brother Carle had a superb game in the centre alongside Dai Owen. Forwards Dan Williams, Jon Purnell, Nathan Strong, Mike Davies and Dan Shore were all in fine form while Marc Davies, Craig Fox, Lenny Woodard and Grant Epton always looked threatening.

For Aberavon Jason Massey and Ceri Thomas stood out and if final passes had gone to hand the scoreline would have been a lot closer.

The Blue Bulls have two tough games to end the season against Torfaen Tigers and Newport Titans and those games could well decide who the Fighting Irish play in the 2nd v 3rd play off, of which the winner will play the Bridgend Blue Bulls in the Wales Grand Final.



BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS SCORERS:
TRIES:
Dan Shore
Dai Owen
Grant Epton (2)
Karl Hocking (2)
Lenny Woodard
Carle Ellis (2)
Marc Davies

GOALS:
Marc Davies (3)
Dai Owen

ABERAVON FIGHTING IRISH SCORERS:
TRIES:
Geraint Davies
Andy Llewellyn

Article by Simon Davies
17 Jul 2004

 



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