Torfaen Tigers

The tigers took a mixture of youth and experience down to ST Albans RFC. This season there was a little more on it with the Cymru RL putting league points up for grabs in the preliminary round fixtures. The Tigers had the West Wales Boars and despite the slow start pulled clear in the second half wining 24 nil. The next fixture saw the Tigers play the NPT Steelers and after going behind early on the Tigers rallied to finish winners. After just a 10 min rest the tigers had to step up and face the impressive looking Bridgend Blue Bulls. The Tigers started well and were firmly on top at half time 10 – 0 up, In the second half though the Tigers played suicide rugby throwing silly passes in treacherous conditions and handling errors let the Bulls pull back to within 2 points. Then in the final seconds of the game with the Bulls on the Tigers line the referee decided award a try after a blues player offloaded in contact that went a mile forward, snatching victory from the Tigers, the players protested but the try stood. The Tigers bounced back with an impressive 10 – 6 win against the Demons that lined the Tigers up for a battle against the Cougars for a place in the final. The Tigers by now had found there stride despite the refereeing setback and the tigers were comfortably 10 – 4 up with seconds to go when the Cougars had a break away try to make the score 10 – 8 to the Tigers with the conversion from the touchline to follow. The cougars player stepped up and attempted from the touchline, fortunately for the tigers it sailed way wide but to the amazement of both the Tigers and Cougars the touch judge raised his flag and the referee awarded it meaning the game finished 10 all and the Tigers were out of the final! With all the Tigers Players understandably unhappy and by now tired the prospect of the Plate final match seemed insignificant after the refereeing performance snatched victory on 2 occasions. However the boys pulled themselves to there feet and played the Titans for the Plate final. They game started with the Tigers taking an early 4-0 lead but they were not playing with the same vigour and the Titans soon drew level. In the second half the Titans scored twice to win 18 – 4 and deservedly won as they wanted it more.

The tournament on the whole was a success for the Tigers with a number of new players giving promising performances, standout new boy was Steve who’s powerful running and bone-crunching hits left the crowd Ooohing on numerous occasions. The Tigers can move on knowing that they had a moral victory against both finalists.

The way the team played throughout the day was exceptional and the attitude shown when things did not go their way was very professional. Things look to be going very well building up to the opening league match on the 27^th May away to the Cougars.

Well-done Boys!!!

Scott McRorie 9’s Squad:

1. Jamie Juene                         

2. Jason Hill     

3. Chris Williams

4. Rob Davies                         

5. Owain Tudball           

6. Martin Vaughn

7. Gareth-John Jenkins

8. Darryl Carter           

9. Jake Nash

10. Sam Saunders                     

11. Matthew Davies           

12.Steve

13. Hywel Jones               

14. James              

15.Ashley Goode