photo by Jane Harris

Bridgend Blue Bulls qualified for their fourth successive Welsh Grand Final after beating Valley Cougars 58-10 in Porthcawl on Saturday.

Bridgend took the lead on nine minutes after Lenny Woodard fed Christiaan Roets to run home. Gareth David converted.

But Cougars hit back following an immense spell of pressure when Anthony Watts set up Roets again to score in the corner.

Bridgend thought they’d scored a second try when Paul Morgan picked up a loose ball and sprinted 80 metres to score but the officials ruled it out due to a knock-on.

But there was no mistake a minute later

after Roets intercepted Lee Williams’ grubber to run a similar distance and ground under the sticks. David’s kick made the score 12-4.

Paul Morgan went over in the corner for Bridgend’s next try while Craig Fox also grounded soon after with David converting.

And two former Crusaders teamed up for the next try – Karl Hocking setting up Lenny Woodard with David adding the extras to make the half-time score 28-4.

Bridgend increased their lead ten minutes after the interval when Kevin Ellis set up Dan Williams to score. David converted again.

Cougars hit back through Ashley Bateman following good work from Lee Williams and Owen Lewis. Williams converted.

Paul Morgan restored the balance racing half the length of the field to score again with David converting, while two tries from David and one from Matthew Morgan, all converted by David, completed the rout.

article by Ian Golden
28 July 2007