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Demons 36 Titans 32
Wales student coach returns to help Cardiff morale boosting win over Newport
Cardiff Demons withstood a late barrage from the Newport Titans to hold on to two precious points in a thrilling 36-32 victory at Taffs Well.

Both clubs scored three tries in an entertaining first half, but it was the Demons who emerged with an 18-16 lead thanks to Gareth Jones¡¯ penalties. The Demons had touched down through Mark Devine, Paul Kirton and Andy Howard with the Titans¡¯ responding through Neil McKim, Gareth George and Dan Clements.

The sinbinning of McKim thirty seconds before the break gave the Demons superior numbers for the opening minutes of the second half, and the home side ratcheted up the pressure with another Jones penalty and two fine tries. The first came from former coach Wayne Williams, who has recently returned from the RL Student World Cup in Australia, and the second, which took the Cardiff lead to 30-16, was finished off by John Byers after a length of the field break from Gareth Jones.

Newport reduced the deficit to 8 on 52 minutes with a Martin Carawley try, but suffered a severe blow five minutes later with the sending off of Dan Clements. Worse was to come on 67 minutes when Scott Hirene was sinbinned, allowing the Demons to convert their two man advantage into a Gareth Jones try under the posts a minute later, restoring Cardiff's 14 point lead.
 

But Newport battled valiantly and were rewarded on 75 minutes with a Matthew Dwyer try down the right wing. Restored to twelve men with the return of Hirene, the Titans¡¯ impetus continued as the excellent Kirk Johnson sprinted 50 metres down the left wing to score in the corner with two minutes remaining. Dwyer duly converted to give his depleted side a real chance of pulling off a remarkable escape, and the odds on Newport shortened after the kick off when the Titans attacked again and Gareth George got within two metres of the Cardiff line on the second tackle. But the Demons defence held firm for two more tackles and to their relief and delight the final whistle sounded giving the Demons their second home win of the campaign.

Cardiff: 1 Jamie Iles, 2 Matthew Martin, 3 John Byers, 4 Lewis Frances, 5 Mike Regan, 6 Kyle Blake, 7 Gareth Jones, 8 Pat Howell, 9 Andy Howard, 10 Anthony Loxton, 11 Ross Olney, 12 Pete Gooding, 13 Mark Devine. Subs: 14 Wayne Williams, 15 Rhodri Thomas, 16 Paul Kirton, 17 Tom Purnell.
Newport: 1 Kirk Johnson, 2 Dan Clements, 3 Martin Carawley, 4 Neil McKim, 5 Chris Vitalini, 6 Ross Palmer, 7 Ben Morris, 8 Richard Davies, 9 Tyrone Mahoney, 10 Scott Hirene, 11 Matthew Dwyer, 12 Iain McIntyre, 13 Gav Donaldson. Subs: 14 Mark Wheeler, 15 Gavin Carruthers, 16 Gareth George, 17 Rob Dodgson.
Referee: Mr A Cuttle (S Yorkshire).
Half Time 18-16.
Man of the Match: Jamie Iles.
Sent Off: D Clements.
Sinbin: N McKim, S Hirene.

Article by Simon Davies
23 Jul 2005

 



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