WRL RESULT – VALLEY COUGARS 54 RHONDDA OUTLAWS 14

VALLEY COUGARS 54 RHONDDA OUTLAWS 14

By Ian Golden at Treharris RFC

Valley Cougars ensured top spot in the end of season WRL Premier League table after beating Rhondda Outlaws 54-14.

The match kicked off a little earlier than advertised and perhaps it came too soon for the Outlaws as Dean Higgs took just 40 seconds to give Cougars the lead. Mike Hurley converted.

The second try came a few minutes later through Lee Goddard, Hurley converting again to make it 12-0.

A late change in the Cougars side saw Dafydd Hellard play a day after arriving back from Student World Cup in Australia. He proved that six games in two weeks wasn’t enough for him and scored two quick tries, Hurley converting the second of them to make it 22-0.

Then Ethan Coombes, celebrating his 23rd birthday, dived over for the first of his hat-trick of tries with Hurley converting to make the half-time score 28-0.

Cougars stormed into the second half and scored another three tries in the first 20 minutes. Shane Lee set up Scott Giles a couple of minutes in, Ross Price ran over for the next before Hurley grounded after receiving Coombes’ pass. Hurley converted all three to bring the score up to 46-0.

All credit must be given to the Outlaws who refused to give in. They scored three tries in 15 minutes to bring the score back to 46-14. Morgan Cross went in for the first, quickly followed by Andrew Prouse with Max Hendy adding the extras. Sean Ware ran over for their third and final try.

But the Cougars finished well with Coombes diving over for two unconverted efforts to complete proceedings.

On the final official day of the season this Saturday, the Outlaws travel to Pyle RFC to face Bridgend Blue Bulls whilst Cardiff Blue Dragons host Torfaen Tigers.

The last actual game of the regular season is another rearranged encounter next Wednesday 26th July, back at Treharris RFC where Bridgend are the visitors for Valley Cougars.

A win for Torfaen will secure them a home game in the play-offs, but should they slip up, two victories for Bridgend could give them the runners-up spot.

Cardiff need a win on Saturday to give them a play-off place but should they slip with a heavy defeat, then a good win for Rhondda could give them a top four finish.

Unfortunately West Wales Raiders have had to withdraw from the Welsh Premier League for 2017 as their efforts have primarily this season been focussed on the takeover of South Wales Ironmen.

As some of their players could now make the step-up to League 1, and their officials are now running South Wales Ironmen, they were naturally unable to fulfil their remaining WPL fixtures.

Their results have now been expunged from the 2017 table making this a five-team competition.

It is hoped that a new community club in Llanelli will be formed for the 2018 season to take the Raiders’ place in the WPL to complement the new structure.

The Kingstone Press League 1 Shield fixtures were released today, with the Ironmen opening their Llanelli account with a home game against Gloucestershire All Golds on Saturday 29th July (kick-off 3pm). North Wales Crusaders host London Skolars at Queensway Stadium in Wrexham the next day (kick-off 2.30pm). For a full set of fixtures, go to http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/leagues__comps/semi_pro_sides.

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE P W L D PF PA DIFF PTS
1 Valley Cougars 7 7 0 0 356 100 256 14
2 Torfaen Tigers 7 4 3 0 226 214 12 8
3 Bridgend Blue Bulls 6 3 3 0 196 222 -26 4
4 Cardiff Blue Dragons 7 2 5 0 176 260 -84 4
5 Rhondda Outlaws 7 1 6 0 162 320 -158 2

Table adjustments:
-2: Bridgend Blue Bulls (Fielding unregistered player)