COUGARS HAVE THE EDGE ON TIGERS

PREMIER LEAGUE TORFAEN TIGERS ...... 14 VALLEY COUGARS ..... 24

VALLEY Cougars beat Torfaen Tigers 24-14 in the opening South Wales Premier League game of the season, in a game played in torrential rain throughout at Cwmbran RFC.

Torfaen made the Cougars know they were in a contest for most of the game, but four tries on the bounce before half-time was enough to secure a win for the away side.

Tigers took the lead on six minutes after Corey Clark set up Andrew Barlow for a try that was converted by Matt Cummins.

Eight minutes later they were level after Jonathan Davies, who has just finished his rugby union season with Ebbw Vale, powered his way through. Mike Hurley converted.

A well-worked try for Craig Lewis, who shoved his opponents away to score, gave Cougars the lead from the next set, before Dean Higgs forced his way over in the corner. Both conversions were missed.

Then on the half-hour, a long pass fooled the Tigers back-line and Hurley dived over and converted well from the touchline to make it 20-6.

Tigers were nearly back in the game just before half-time but Sam Baker had a score disallowed for a forward pass.

But the home side weren’t to be denied.

Mike Edwards dived over for an unconverted effort just after the interval before a Matt Pancho try added to the score with again the kick being missed.

Lewis slid in for Cougars’ final try with five minutes left on the clock to complete proceedings.