Blackwood Bulldogs 12 Valley Cougars 26

BLACKWOOD BULLDOGS 12 VALLEY COUGARS 26 By Ian Golden at Brewery Field, Bridgend

In front of a 500-strong crowd, Valley Cougars were crowned Welsh Champions for the very first time as they beat Blackwood Bulldogs 26-12.

The previously unbeaten Bulldogs, despite scoring first in each half, failed to rise to the big occasion, as the hard working and well drilled Cougars, who this season have played out of Nelson RFC, deserved their Grand Final success.

The nomadic Cougars, who have previously played out of Abercynon, Pontypridd, Pontyclun and Ferndale, finished bottom of the Welsh Conference in their first two years. They deserve this success as chairman Mark Rowley explains.