“BLUE BULLS BEAT COUGARS TO MAKE IT TO GRAND FINAL”
The Bridgend Blue Bulls will face Blackwood Bulldogs in the Wales Grand Final on Friday night after a 48-28 victory over reigning Champions the Valley Cougars at Porthcawl RFC. The Cougars got off to the best start after break from centre Hywel Lloyd resulted in former Celtic Crusader Phil Cushion crashing over, and Carl Thomas added the extras to put the visitors 6-0 up.
But the Blue Bulls were soon back on level terms when some great passing from David James and Nathan Hawkins resulted in Jamie Murphy crossing and he converted his own try to bring the scores level. Some great defending then stopped Cushion from claiming a second and the Cougars were then punished when another flowing move saw Murphy claim a second try and he again converted to make it 12-6.
Bridgend then wasted the opportunity to go even further ahead quickly taking a penalty in front of the posts and immediately knocking on, and then a Cougars attack resulted in second row John Sanigar scoring and Paul Emanuelli converted to again bring the scores level.
But just before the break Jamie Murphy again worked his magic racing away for a superb solo try to claim a great hat-trick and his third goal gave him and his team an 18-12 half time lead.
Blue Bull Craig Fox and Paul Emanuelli of the Cougars exchanged early tries at the start of the second half with the visitors adding the goal to make it 22-18 but the turning point came in the 50th minute when on the final tackle some great play from Chris McGrath, Michael John and Tylon Mafi put Christiaan Roets over in the corner and moments later Mafi went on a superb run handing off four would-be tacklers before sending wing Michael John racing under the posts and Murphy’s fourth goal put the home side 32-18 up.
Centre David James then clamed his fifth try in four games and another Murphy goal put Bridgend 20 points clear. In a frantic last 10 minutes Cougars prop Mark Jones scored twice either side of a try for Lloyd O’Connor to bring the score to 44-28 before the final say of the game went to Blue Bulls wing Chris McGrath who raced over the line after a great break from Michael John.
The Blue Bulls will now go forward to play the Blackwood Bulldogs in the Wales Grand Final on Friday night at Caerphilly RFC. After the game Blue Bulls coach Jon Purnell said “I am delighted with the performance, everyone gave 100% and it was the best we have played all season. Due to injuries and Union call ups we had guys playing in unfamiliar positions but everyone played well and we scored some lovely tries“. This was by far the Blue Bulls best performance of the season with the team looking great in both attack and defence. Playing together for the first time Michael John and David James teamed up well in the centre while wings McGrath and Daly were in fine form and look dangerous throughout. Teenager Nathan Hawkins did well covering a variety of positions while Matt “the hammerhead” Pritchard tackled superbly.
Man of the Match Murphy and his halfback partner Fox had great games and bossed the match well while hooker Shaun Owens was again I great form, as was Lloyd O’Connor after coming off the bench. In the forwards props Rhys Hawkins and William Burns, who are 20 years apart in age tackled and carried well while second row duo Tylon Mafi and Gareth Howells were awesome making yards every time they got the ball, and Christiaan Roets had another fine game at loose forward.
“BLUE BULLS SET FOR SEMI FINAL SHOWDOWN”
The Bridgend Blue Bulls face there biggest match of the season on Sunday when they host reigning Welsh Champions Valley Cougars at there Porthcawl RFC home.
The Bulls, who won the Wales title five years in a row between 2003 and 2007 have had back to back defeats to the Blackwood Bulldogs going into the game but are still favourites having beaten the Cougars 48-30 earlier in the season.
The team will be hoping that the six players involved in Rugby Union friendlies the day before all come through fit and unscathed and a full strength team runs out onto the pitch come 2:30 Sunday
Centre Michael John is expected to partner teenager Nathan Hawkins in the centre with Michael Daly and Chris McGrath being preferred outwide. Matthew Hutchings returns at fullback while Jamie Murphy, Shaun Owens and Christiaan Roets are all expected to play after missing the last Bulls game due to being called up to the Crusaders Reserves. Former Whitehaven forward William Burns and Rhys Hawkins will start at prop and there is a strong second row with Gareth Howells and Tylon Mafi taking the 11 and 12 jerseys.
Despite scoring a hat-trick away to Blackwood a fortnight ago David James has been named on the bench with coach Jon Purnell saying “David can cover a number of positions from the bench and he will definitely be used early on”. The subs bench also included hard running forwards James Elton and Kyle Coulter, Wales Dragonhearts centre Karl Davies and Matt Pritchard who make a big impact from the bench in the Bulls last game. The Cougars also name a strong line up including Dragonhearts Paul Emanuelli, Dafydd Hellard, Steven Williams, John Sannigar, Hywel Lloyd and Mark Jones along with former Crusader Phil Cushion.
The winner of the game will go forward to next Fridays Wales Grand Final to meet the Blackwood Bulldogs, the game is currently scheduled for Maesteg RFC but this is subject to change.
Prior to the game Blue Bulls Team Manager Simon Green said
“we beat the Cougars up at Nelson earlier in the season but the score-line flattered us slightly and we will have to be at our very best to beat them and get into our sixth final in seven years. They have lots of good players and are the reigning Champions so its going to massive game and the team who makes the least mistakes will win. I just hope by the time the game finishes the Wales Rugby League have made a decision on where and when the Final will be held.“.
The Blue Bulls Under 13s are also in action this Sunday when they travel to Pontyclun to take on the Pontyclun Panthers in the U13s semi finals. Kick off there is at 11am giving supporters the opportunity to watch both games.
JAMES HAT-TRICK NOT ENOUGH AS BLACKWOOD GO THROUGH TO WALES GRAND FINAL
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The Blackwood Bulldogs were victorious over the Bridgend Blue Bulls for the second time in eight days with a 48-36 victory at there Glan-Yr-Afon Park home. Bridgend had travelled to Blackwood with a depleted team missing a number of key players including three who had been called into the Celtic Crusaders Reserves team. Blackwood wing Wesley Cunliffe took advantage of some slack early defending to score a fine try in the opening minute with Jeremy Lloyd converting, but Bridgend hit straight back when Lloyd O’Connor handed off three would-be tacklers before offloading to scrum half David James who raced over for an unconverted try.
But in a fast and furious opening ten minutes Bulldogs fullback Trevor James scored to give his side a 10-4 lead. A great break from Gareth Howells and Michael John should have lead to a second score for the Blue Bulls but like in last weeks game the ball was dropped with the try-line begging. That mistake was then punished when Wales Dragonhearts hooker Byron Williams scored a third for the home team after a break Aaron Humphries then two quick scores from former Wales Union International Hywel Jenkins and two goals from Jeremy Lloyd put Blackwood 26-4 up.
The Bulldogs looked certain to grab a fifth score but a superb tackle from Fullback Matthew Pritchard stopped Brian Williams and then it was Bridgend who had the final say of the half when teenage prop Rhys Hawkins charged forward and slipped in a great pass for Lloyd O’Connor to score, and Gareth Howells kicked the extra two to make it 26-10 at half time.
As the minutes ticked down Blackwood scored twice more with Jeremy Lloyd and Aaron Humphries both crossing, and Lloyd added a further goal to make it 48-28. But the final score in an excellent game went to Michael John, who had covered four different positions during the match and Lloyd O’Connor kicked the goal to make the final score 48-34 to Blackwood who now go straight into the Wales Grand Final.
Meanwhile the Blue Bulls will have to beat the Valley Cougars in a fortnights time in order to get the final and have a third crack at Blackwood. For Bridgend Gareth Howells and Michael John were excellent making numerous breaks while David James scored a great hat-trick playing at scrum-half for the first time. After the game Blue Bulls captain Lloyd O’Connor said
“we are down but not out, the lads who came in today done a great job and with a little more luck and composure we could have won. But we will now concentrate on beating the Cougars in two weeks and then hopefully it will be third time lucky in the final over Blackwood”
“BULLDOGS FINISH TOP AFTER VICTORY AT PORTHCAWL”
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The Bridgend Blue Bulls lost out on the race to finish top of the Welsh Conference Table after losing 18-4 in awful conditions at Porthcawl RFC to Blackwood Bulldogs.
But the Blue Bulls hit straight back when hooker Lloyd O’Connor scored after god work from Rhys Hawkins but Shaun Owens sliced the kick and the score stood at 4-4.
Both teams had chances to take the lead but the wet and slippery conditions caused many knock-ons and the game turned into a bit of a lottery, and eventually Blackwood’s numbers came up when Byron Williams set up a try for Gareth Dare which Gareth Price converted from the touchline to give the visitors a 10-4 half time lead.
Gareth Price extended that lead early in the second half with a penalty goal. The Blue Bulls should have hit back but twice dropped the ball over the line and some players were guilty of not passing when a try looked certain.
The Bulldogs then eventually made the Blue Bulls pay when Andre Sonoko crashed over after a charging run from former Union International Hywel Jenkins and Price again added the extras to give Blackwood an 18-4 lead.
Gareth Howells and David James both came close to scoring consolation tries for Bridgend but the driving rain and some fierce Blackwood tackling prevented them from crossing and Blackwood celebrated there eighth straight win.
For Blackwood Byron Williams and Hywel Jenkins were excellent while wings David James and Gareth Dare looked dangerous throughout.
In the Bulls team second row duo Gareth Howells and Daniel Smith and wing Michael Daly were the stand out players and they will hoping to gain revenge on Blackwood when they play again in the play-offs.
The teams will now face each other again next Saturday in the first v second play off match with Blackwood having home advantage.
After the game Blue Bulls Team Manager Simon Green said
“we are all gutted but lost to the better side on the day, we will now re-group, work hard in training and travel up to Blackwood next weekend hoping to hit back. Parts of our game were poor but that will be put right before Saturdays game“
Supporters transport will be organised to Blackwood next Saturday leaving from the Brewery Field at midday. Anyone interested in travelling and supporting the Blue Bulls in this crucial match should contact Simon Green on 07719 889364.
Latest Results
Wales 32 Scotland 12 (at Nelson RFC)
The Wales Dragonhearts made it two wins from two in the Home Nations Championship with a 32-12 victory over Scotland.
Scotland’s Andy Grodzynski missed with an early penalty before a charging run from former Crusader Phil Cushion set up a try for centre Matthew Hutchings to give Wales the lead. And moments later the Bridgend Blue Bulls star was over for a second after good play from Lloyd O’Connor and Scott Bessant and Paul Emanuelli converted for a 10-0 lead.
Hutchings fellow centre Karl Davies then had a try disallowed for crossing and the Bravehearts immediately made Wales pay and a break from Callum Anderson resulted in a score for prop John Cox and Grodzynski added the extra two to make it 10-6.
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Latest News
Bulls 58 Tigers 18
The Bridgend Blue Bulls made it six wins out of six at Pontypool beating the Torfaen Tigers 58-18 at New Panteg RFC. Star of the show was scrum half Shaun Owens who scored 26 points kicking nine out of ten conversions and racing over for two tries.
The Bulls scored in the opening minute when Gareth Howells broke through some weak tackles to score under the posts and moments later captain Lloyd O'Connor got Bridgends second after good work from Daniel Smith with Shaun Owens converting both for an early 12-0 lead
But the Tigers hit back and some good passing saw Jamie Williams cross in the corner before Damien Smith set up a score for Gareth John Jenkins, Daryl Carter added a single conversion to bring the home team to within two.
A length of the field try from Christiaan Roets restored the Blue Bulls two score lead before wing Chris McGrath used every inch of his body to stretch to the line and claim a fourth for Bridgend. McGraths fellow Bridgend wing Michael Daly then scored twice in as many minutes, the second after a great break by 18-year old stand-off Nathan Hawkins and Owens added all the kicks to make it 36-10.
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Bulls 56 Sharks 5
Despite missing six of the players who had played for the Wales Dragonhearts the previous week the Bridgend Blue Bulls still managed a convincing 56-5 victory over the Dinefwr Sharks at Porthcawl RFC.The Blue Bulls scored 11 tries including four from skipper Lloyd O'Connor and a brace from wing Michael Daly who was playing his first game of Rugby for almost a year after undergoing major shoulder surgery.
It took Bridgend just two minutes to take the lead when Daly, who had marked his return by dying his hair blue sprinted away after a break from O'Connor to give the home side an early 4-0 lead.
The Sharks almost hit back through Steffan Davies but a great tackle from Christiaan Roets prevented the centre from scoring and from the turnover Bridgend attacked and a break from Kyle Coulter sent Daly over for his second. tres to get the Sharks first try.
In the end the Blue Bulls were just too strong scoring three more times to win 56-5.
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BLUE BULLS SHINE AS DRAGONHEATS HAMMER ENGLAND
Wales Dragonhearts 42 England Lionhearts 4
The Wales Dragonhearts, formerly known as Wales A got there biggest ever victory over the England Lionhearts at the Brewery Field last Saturday with an empathic 42-4 victory with Bridgend Blue Bulls players starring.
Ten of the 18 man squad selected were Blue Bulls with 38 of the 42 points scored coming from players at the Porthcawl based club giving the team the perfect start in this years Home Nations Campaign. In the fifth minute Grant Epton, who returned to the Blue Bulls this summer after two seasons with the Crusaders created an early try for his Bridgend and Wales teammate Jamie Murphy which Murphy also converted for a 6-0 lead.
But the English hit straight back when stand off Paul Hersnip put in a great kick which Ethan Langhorn pounced on for an unconverted score.
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Valley Cougars 30 Blue Bulls 46
The Bridgend Blue Bulls won a 14 try thriller against reigning Welsh Champions Valley Cougars at Nelson RFC to take top spot in the Wales Conference League table.
The Bulls almost scored in the second minute when prop James Elton side stepped two tackles but his pass was intercepted by Paul Emmanuelli.
But just minutes later former Celtic Crusader Grant Epton marked his return to a Blue Bulls jersey with a great run that resulted in a score for centre Karl Davies with Jamie Murphy converting for a 6-0 lead.
But the Cougars hit straight back thanks to another former Crusader in Phil Cushion, the prop handing off two tacklers to score an unconverted try.
The scores stayed the same till the 23rd minute when Tylon Mafi broke through the Cougars defence to send his captain Lloyd O'Connor scampering to the tryline. The Bulls then furthered their lead when a great cross field kick from Murphy resulted in a try for Epton to make it 16-4 to the Bulls.
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Steelers 10 Blue Bulls 48
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The Bridgend Blue Bulls got their third straight victory in this years Welsh Rugby League Conference with a convincing 48-10 win away to the Neath-Port Talbot Steelers at Aberavon Quins RFC, the match having switched there from Corus RFC due to pitch problems.The Bulls were missing player-coach Jon Purnell and outstanding young prop Rhys Hawkins due to injury and new captain Lloyd O'Connor due to work commitments but still managed to score nine tries against the team lead by former Celtic Crusader Dean Scully.
The game remained scoreless for the first 17 minutes with both teams spurning try scoring opportunities, but then a great break from centre Karl Davies resulted in the opening score for hooker Shaun Owens and Jamie Murphy converted to make it 6-0. Then two minutes later the Bulls scored a second with Matthew Hutchings crossing in the corner, and Murphy converted from the touchline to double Bridgend lead.
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Click Here for Junior Fixtures
Training - Newbridge Fields
Seniors Every Weds 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Under 17s Every Weds 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Under 15 Every Tues at 6pm
Under 13s Every Thurs 6pm
2008 Presentation Awards
The Bridgend Blue Bulls held there Annual Presentation Evening on the weekend with the following recieving awards:-
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lloyd O'Connor
Lloyd was overwhelmingly voted Player of the Year for 2008 after scoring 13 tries and being our best player on the field in most of our matches this summer. He played in every match and became our youngest ever captain midway through the season.
DARYL DYKE MEMORIAL AWARD: Rhys Hawkins
This award is named after a great young man who played for the Bulls in 2005 but sadly passed away in the December of that year. It goes to the individual who we feel shows the most committment to the team.
This years winner - Rhys Hawkins celebrated his 18th Birthday during the summer and showed huge commitment to the side. He was 1 of just 2 players to appear in every game and travelled by bus from Pontycymmer to attend training. He was also outstanding on the pitch in his first season of Rugby League and outplayed many who have been playing the sport far longer.
