Devils give Blue Bulls a scare
Match report
Dyffryn Devils RLFC
26
Bridgend Blue Bulls RLFC
44
| Venue: | Penybanc RFC, SA18 3QS |
| Date: | Saturday 9th June 2012 |
| Referee: | |
| Competition: | Welsh Conference - Premier Division |
| Round: | 5 |
| Referee: | To be confirmed |
In the first ever game between the two sides the Bridgend Blue Bulls received a mighty scare at Penybanc RFC before finally beating the Dyffryn Devils 44-26 with Dan Smith claiming a hat trick and teenage full-back Huw Rosser scoring 26 points.
The reigning Champions were without a number of key players and were disjointed at the start, and the Devils took full advantage with Owen Williams claiming an opening try in the second minute with Ceri Rees converting.
But Bridgend were back on level terms straight away when Dan Smith raced over for his first and Rosser converted. Rosser then scored himself after gathering the ball from a Devils kick and racing 90 metres weaving past a number of would-be tacklers for a great solo score, and he converted himself for a 12-6 lead.
The Devils hit back via Ceri Rees but then Lee Smith scored the Bulls third, although it came at a cost with the centre injuring his leg while scoring, Rosser again added the extra two. The Bulls should have claimed a fourth moments later after a great break from Tylon Mafi, but he was brought down just short and then penalised for illegally playing the ball and the Devils broke away and Steffan Jones scored to cut the deficit to just four points at half time.
Two tries for Dan Smith in the opening five minutes of the second half gave the second row his hat-trick with Rosser adding both kicks then great play from Nathan Hawkins and Lee Harben-Jones ended in a try for Mikey Rowe.
Good play from Williams then saw Dafydd Pritchard score the Devils fourth of the game with Rees again adding the extras then Rosser claimed his second for Bridgend after a Josh Miles run, and Rosser then converted from the touchline.
Despite being 20 points down the Devils never gave up and were rewarded with a fifth score with Gareth Rees seizing on a mistake by Chris McGrath but the final say went to Bulls forward Ken Dowding who capped off a good performance with the final touchdown.
For the Devils Owen Williams and Dafydd Pritchard were excellent, while hat-trick hero Dan Smith, Rosser and Nathan Hawkins stood out for Bridgend.
