WEST WALES RAIDERS 18 VALLEY COUGARS 24

By Ian Golden at Parc Stebonheath

Valley Cougars from Treharris have finished top of Conference League South for the second year in a row after a hard-fought 24-18 win over West Wales Raiders in Llanelli on Saturday.

However the season isn’t over yet for The Raiders. If they beat Nottingham Outlaws at home in two weeks’ time then they will still finish in fourth place and set up a semi-final at the Cougars’ ground on September 10^th.

Should they fall again, then Torfaen Tigers will be waiting. They can also qualify in fourth place but will need to beat Gloucestershire All Golds, also on September 3^rd.

The game was a classic and played in fantastic spirit which was a credit to Rugby League in Wales.

Early chances at both ends didn’t come to fruition. Shane Lee’s kick was too hard for Daf Phillips to latch onto whilst Shane Edwards was close at the other end.

Cougars eventually took the lead on 22 minutes when Adam Watton went over in the corner. Mike Hurley converted.

The lead was doubled five minutes later when Shane Lee forced his way over, Hurley goaled again.

Raiders hit back as soon as they regained the ball after a good passing move put Sean Collins over in the corner. Edwards sliced the kick wide.

Cougars extended their lead just before the interval when Tyler Wells scored in the corner. The kick was missed and the men from Treharris went into the break with a deserved 16-4 lead.

Raiders were first to score in the second half, Collins making a 50 metre run but pressure meant he was forced to ground in the corner. The conversion was missed and Cougars remained 16-8 up.

But Cougars regained the advantage straight away when Ethan Coombes did well to dive through a crowd of players to score. Hurley’s conversion attempt curled wide.

Again West Wales struck back. Another good passing move and Iwan Mayze was over for another unconverted effort leaving the score at 20-12.

Raiders’ tails were up. Ben Swift scored in the corner and Edwards converted for the first time in the match bringing the score back to 20-18.

They could have taken the lead for the first time in the game but former Scorpions’ prop Alan Pope lost the ball in the tackle as he was diving for the line.

Raiders were made to pay as the Cougars scored following a length of the field set, player-coach Dafydd Hellard finishing the move but Hurley’s conversion sailing wide. 24-18.

West Wales were given a repeat set after Jordan Coombes prevented a Raiders try, giving away a goal-line drop-out. They conceded a second after a high bomb was nicely dealt with but Luke Williams dropped the ball after pressure from Shane Lee and ten minutes worth of Raiders pressure had been at last cleared up by the Cougars.

Ten minutes of injury time followed and Raiders desperately looked for an equalising try but Cougars were always ready for them, Tyler Wells completing a try saving tackle on Jo Alengi being the closest effort.

But in the end, the referee’s whistle prompted celebrations from the dominant Cougars side and as “We are the Champions” played from the sheds, Raiders knew they will have to try again in a fortnight.