Match Report

By Ian Golden at Sardis Road, photos by www.ianlovell.com

Valley Cougars retained their Welsh Premier League title and became the first side since Bridgend Blue Bulls in 2003-4 to go unbeaten in the Welsh competition for two successive seasons.

They beat Torfaen Tigers, also last year’s runners-up, 28-12 after an excellent second half performance and dedicated their win to their coach Dafydd Hellard, who is recovering from chemotherapy for testicular cancer.

Wes Cunliffe got the opening try for Torfaen, running through a gap to score, with Dai Thomas converting.

Cougars got back into the game after Adam Watton also found a space he could run though. Mike Hurley missed the conversion.

A Thomas penalty increased Torfaen’s lead before Cunliff ran over in the corner for his and Torfaen’s second try.

Cougars hit back again when Gethin King forced his way through the Tigers’ defence in a try that again went unconverted.

They levelled from the next set after kick-off, Jamie Marsh scoring in the corner with Hurley’s goal attempt just going under the bar.

Hellard, still unable to interact with anyone, was watching alone from the open terrace behind the goal at Pontypridd, and shouted out a half-time team talk to his players.

It certainly did the trick. Lewys Cullen put Cougars in the lead for the first time just two minutes into the second half. Hurley again failed to convert.

Ryan Davies smashed through for their next try and Hurley finally kicked a successful conversion to put them 22-12 up.

Dean Higgs set up Shane Lee on 68 minutes to seal the win with Hurley converting.

Tigers had an extra man for the final ten minutes after Davis was yellow, then red carded a double count of talking back. They did hammer the Cougars line, but it kept firm and the score remained at 28-12.