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Torfaen Tigers, the only Welsh team to ever beaten Bridgend Blue Bulls will now face the Welsh Champions in next Sunday’s Welsh Rugby League Grand Final at the Brewery Field after beating Aberavon Fighting Irish in a gripping encounter on Saturday.
Jason Hill powered over to give Torfaen the lead after five minutes.
Mathew Francombe looked to have followed suit four minutes later but was held up over the line.
Hill went over for his second on 15 minutes to make it 0-10 but the Tigers lost the ball straight from kick-off after a knock-on and Aberavon’s resulting pressure was rewarded with a Mike Healy try.
A Gareth Jenkins fieldgoal allowed Torfaen to keep possession and this tactic was rewarded on the half-hour when Welsh international Damien Hudd gave them a 17-4 lead.
Aberavon weren’t beaten yet and Lee Williams grounded just two minutes later. Torfaen retained their 13-point advantage after Scott Bendon scored in the 37th minute but Aberavon hit back with an excellent Mark Burke try just before the half-time whistle.
Healy’s second two minutes into the second half put Aberavon to within three points but Torfaen scored two tries in the next five minutes after Damien Smith scored in the corner and David Davies superbly caught a bomb to ground.
Mark Burke got his second six minutes later but Torfaen sealed the match with another two quick tries - Gareth Jenkins with the first after running 40-metres to the line and following a fieldgoal attempt the hit the post, Steven Mayley pounced on the loose ball to give Torfaen an unassailable 45-26 lead.
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Scott O’Kelly scored with ten minutes remaining to give the Fighting Irish hope. Dean Scully added another three minutes later and David Dyer got another in the final play of the match, but it was too little too late.
Valley Cougars face Cardiff Demons on Sunday at Sardis Road (kick-off 2.30pm) in the Welsh Shield semi-final. The winners will face Newport Titans at the Brewery Field next Sunday.
ABERAVON: 1. David Dyer, 2. Richard Lewis, 3. Dean Scully, 4. Lee Williams, 5. Chris Griffiths, 6. Mike Healy, 7. Scott O’Kelly, 8. Gareth Moore, 9. Mark Burke, 10. Rob Hill, 11. Lee Jones, 12. Phil Cushion, 13. Richard Hibbard. Subs: 14. Geraint Davies, 15. Jason Massey, 16. Lawrence Griffiths, 17. David Felton.
Tries: Healy (20, 42), Williams (32), Burke (40, 53), O’Kelly (70), Scully (73), Dyer (80)
Goals: Scully 6/8
TORFAEN: 1. David Davies, 2. Damien Smith, 3. Dan Robinson, 4. Mathew Francombe, 5. Nolan Nicklin, 6. Mathew Entwhistle, 7. Gareth Jenkins, 8. Steven Mayley, 9. Jason Hill, 10. Mathew Davies, 11. Damien Hudd, 12. Chris Williams, 13. Scott Bendon. Subs: 17. Dale Nash, 18. Daniel Preece, 19. Stephen Jones, 20. Robert Taylor.
Tries: Hill (5, 15), Hudd (30), Bendon (37), Smith (45), Davies (47), Jenkins (58), Mayley (60)
Goals: Entwhistle 6/8
Fieldgoal: Jenkins
Gamestar: Scott Bendon with a try to seal his first-class performance.
Gamebreaker: The one-pointer from Gareth Jenkins midway through the first half proved to be the crucial moment.
Men of the Match:
Fighting Irish: Mark Burke
Tigers: Scott Bendon
Referee: Alan Smith (Carmarthen)
Half-time: 14-23
Article by Ian Golden
6 Aug 2005
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