photo by Mark Harris

Blackwood Bulldogs opened up the division after sealing a hard fought 36-24 win over league leaders Cardiff Demons.

Blackwood took the lead in the third minute. Following a scrum attack on the Demons’ ten metre line, Byron Williams stormed over and Mark Birkby converted.

They could have had a second less than five minutes later but Mike Woodvine dropped the ball as he was under pressure when diving for the line.

Cardiff’s constant attacking was finally rewarded in the 20th minute as Gareth Jones set up John Trick to score. Jones converted to level things up.

They had the lead for less than two minutes after David James showed footballing skills as under pressure, he chased and kicked the ball three times before diving on it to score.

Cardiff responded as quickly as Blackwood did as Sean Gilbertson forced the ball under the sticks while Sean O’Brien increased the advantage after brilliantly breaking through to defence to score. Jones converted both but Paul Young ran in an unconverted try for Blackwood to put the half-time score at 14-18.

An early second half Mark Birkby try levelled things up for Blackwood and was converted by James.

However, Rhodri Thomas dived in the right hand corner to give the lead back to Cardiff with Jones converting.

But Blackwood scored three tries in the last 15 minutes to seal their second win in four days. James finished off an excellent passing move and converted himself while Leighton Bassett scored two tries to round off the scoring.

article by Ian Golden
24 June 2006