Home  ::  Previous Seasons  ::  Match Reports  :: Blue Bulls v Bulldogs (5th August 2006) Saturday 5th of July 2008

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Match:	Blue Bulls v Bulldogs
Date:	5th August 2006
Venue:	Brigend Blue Bulls
Final Score:	32 - 31
Write Up:	Cymru Rugby League – Conference Play Off Semi-final Bridgend Blue Bulls v Blackwood Bulldogs 5th August 2006 Blackwood Bulldogs travelled to Bridgend Blue Bulls on Saturday for the Conference play off semi-final. This was a journey into the unknown for the Bulldogs having never previously played a side from the West Wales Conference. On a warm sunny day at Porthcawl RFC, the Bulldogs took the field with the advantage of the gentle slope in the first half. Early driving play from the Bulldogs was rewarded with a David James try and Jeremy Lloyd conversion after five minutes. It took the Blue Bulls until the seventeenth minute to respond but they levelled the score in fine fashion following a kick ahead with a pick up and score by Simon Mustoe, converted by Matthew Hutchins. The Bulldogs came straight back on the attack from the kick off but a long pass in mid field was intercepted by Aaron Warner who ran a full 75 metres to score under the posts for the Blue Bulls. Hutchins added the extra points. Again, the Bulldogs came storming back from the kick off and scored a fine try close in following some mazy running by Nick Tucker. Jeremy Lloyd converted to put the game at 12-12 after twenty one minutes. A fine period of attack and counter attack followed with the Bulldogs scoring on thirty eight minutes via a try wide out through Robert Landrygan which went unconverted. From the kick off, the Bulldogs again attacked with John Pritchard scoring close in for Jeremy Lloyd to add the extra points to put the Bulldogs 12-22 ahead at half time. The second half continued in the same competitive manner and it took a further seven minutes before the Bulldogs secured additional points from a Jeremy Lloyd penalty. An unconverted Byron Williams try for the Bulldogs followed on fifty one minutes to increase the Bulldogs lead to 12-28. With the travelling crowd sensing a famous Bulldogs victory, the Blue Bulls were not about to roll over. The fight back started on fifty four minutes with an unconverted try for the Blue Bulls from Marc Bennett following some weak Bulldogs tackling. Matthew Hutchins then converted his own try on fifty six minutes to set Bulldogs nerves jangling. However, it was not to be all one way traffic and the Bulldogs pushed for a score which came on fifty eight minutes from a second Jeremy Lloyd penalty to put the Bulldogs up by 22-30. As in the first half and with two evenly matched sides, the game ebbed and flowed with sound defence from both ends of the field. The Bulldogs increased their lead with a Jeremy Lloyd field goal on sixty six minutes to put them two scores in front at 22-31. However, as with previous weeks, the Blue Bulls continued to surge forward in the latter stages and put the game on a knife edge with a second Simon Mustoe try under the posts on seventy minutes. Matthew Hutchins added the conversion to leave the Blue Bulls three points adrift and set up a nail biting finish. The Bulldogs held firm until the seventy ninth minute when a controversial decision following a discussion between referee and touch judge awarded the ball to the Blue Bulls. Quick thinking Matthew Hutchins put in a fine kick to the wide right hand corner which was gathered by Aaron Warner who scored his second and the deciding try. The unsuccessful conversion attempt was academic as it was followed immediately by the final whistle giving the Blue Bulls a victory by the narrowest of margins at 32-31. This result closed out the Bulldogs inaugural season during which initial expectations have been far exceeded. Congratulations must go to all players, sponsors, committee and supporters for the hard work put in during the season and sets up a very exciting season for the Bulldogs next summer.
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