Bulls are mauled by hungry Tigers

RUGBY LEAGUE

mier League clubs have in South Wales.

Torfaen’s U15s were first up, and they beat Cardiff Blue Dragons 56-10, the U13s then lost to Bridgend Blue Bulls 26-6 before the Tigers beat the Bulls 28-16 at under 17 level.

The Tigers were hot favourites to win the Premier League game and they made the best possible start, scoring three tries in the first 12 minutes.

Euaun Morris picked up a loose ball to go over for Torfaen’s first after five minutes. Easily converted by Dai Thomas to make it 6-0.

The score was increased five minutes later when Jon Wells scored in the corner for a try that went unconverted.

Straight away, Torfaen scored a third, Morris making use of the Cwmbran slope to run over in the same corner with the kick again sailing wide.

Gareth Howells hit back for Bridgend with an unconverted try just after the quarter-time break, taken for drinks due to the searing heat in Cwmbran.

The break certainly did the Bulls good. They went over for a second straight away through Rhys Pope.

After Bridgend were temporarily reduced to 12 men, Torfaen took advantage as Liam Silver fed Wells to go over. Thomas converted to give Tigers a 20-8 half-time lead.

Despite going uphill after the break, Torfaen started strong and quickly put the game out of Bridgend’s reach.

Liam Silver scored two break-away tries and Sam Taylor followed suit. Thomas converted all three to give the Tigers a 30-point lead 15 minutes into the half.

Bridgend refused to give up. Anthony Burnell got a try back but Torfaen addressed the balance straight away as Morris went over for his hat-trick try which Thomas improved.

Bridgend stalwart Xavier Manaseitava sold a nice dummy to score another one back before the hour with Pope scoring his second not long after that.

All of Gareth Howells’ conversion attempts were wide of the mark.