photo by Mark Harris

Torfaen Tigers kept up their charge for second place by beating an under strength Cardiff Demons 51-22.
 
Cardiff took the lead from their first attack. After a pass from Tom Burnell rebounded off Kevin Jones, Torfaen appealed for a knock-on, but John Trick played to the whistle and scored. Oliver Hughes converted.
 
Following a lengthy spell of Cardiff attacking without a further score, Torfaen crossed twice in three minutes when Nolan Nicklin pounced on a loose ball in a scramble in the Demons' goalmouth and Luke Bigham ran in from the kick-off. Matt Entwhistle converted both.
 
Steve Mayley finished off a fine passing move five minutes later for a third try but Entwhistle's conversion hit the post.
 
Both sides got close to scoring again. Damien Smith could have got a fourth for Torfaen but was tackled by Andrew Bradshaw as he got close to the line, while obstruction rulings cost Cardiff two tries - Hughes and Trick both having

scores disallowed. Mark Dando was also close to scoring for Cardiff but when he placed the ball down it was centimetres short of line.

An Entwhistle drop goal right on half-time put Torfaen 17-6 up. Gareth Davies extended their lead following the break but they were a man down soon after when Dan Preece was sinbinned after bringing a player down with his legs.
 
Following a series of penalties that took them further and further upfield, Neil Thomas ran over to get one back for Cardiff with Burnell converting.
 
But Torfaen sealed the match with two quick tries. First Ben Parry set up David Davies then Entwhistle forced his way under the posts.

Preece added another following his return to the field, Cardiff scored a consolation as Burnell ran in under the sticks, converting it himself but Entwhistle did likewise at the other end soon after.
 
Jason Hill was the second Torfaen player to be sinbinned just before full-time but they still managed a further try through Gareth John-Jenkins.
 
However, a Mark Dando try for Cardiff completed the scoring.
 
Torfaen's next must-win game is at Valley Cougars on Wednesday before they travel to Newport Titans next Saturday.

article by Ian Golden
22 July 2006