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Welsh Rugby League Conference semi-final ? Report by Ian Golden
ABERAVON FIGHTING IRISH 27 TORFAEN TIGERS 22
A 74th minute try from Andy Llewellyn put Aberavon into next week?s Total RL.com Welsh Rugby League Conference Grand Final in a tough see-saw game at Little Warren that saw the teams share eight tries.
Aberavon were down to a squad of 15 men in only the first ten minutes as Darren Ryan broke his nose in a tackle and Neil Davies dislocated his finger but despite this, they took the lead after 10 minutes through a Liam Gadd penalty.
Craig Jones gave Torfaen the lead in the 15th after a missed pass by Jason Hill, but Aberavon regained the advantage five minutes later after Dai Hawkins pounced on a Gadd grubber kick. Gadd converted.
Jason Hill regained the lead for Torfaen in the 19th, grounding after throwing a dummy to the Aberavon defence. Danny Phillips converted but Gadd kicked a penalty six minutes later to level the scores.
Hill once again threw a successful dummy in the 34th but this time laid the ball off to Gareth Jenkins who scored easily under the posts. Phillips again converted to put Torfaen 16-10 up, but it was Aberavon who went into the break with an 18-16 advantage following a Gadd penalty and a powerful try from Dai Hawkins, Gadd converting.
Excellent defensive play from both sides dominated the second half. Gadd and Phillips exchanged penalties and a Daniel Hawkins field-goal in the 71st gave Aberavon a three point advantage before Llewellyn?s match winner.
Torfaen had the last say in the 78th with an unconverted Matt Entwhistle try but it was the home side?s superior kicking game that takes them into next week?s final against Bridgend Blue Bulls.
WELSH RUGBY LEAGUE SHIELD SEMI-FINAL ? Report by Simon Davies
CARDIFF DEMONS 54 SWANSEA VALLEY MINERS 22
A ten try performance from Cardiff Demons booked the men from Taffs Well a place in the Welsh Conference Shield Final against the Newport Titans.
It was tit for tat in the first 17 minutes as Cardiff tries from Mark Dando (pictured) and Idris Evans were matched by Miners? scores from Ryan Burton and Ivor Chowings. An Andy Davies conversion from the sideline put Swansea Valley 12-10 up but this served only as a spur to the Demons who replied with three tries in seven minutes from Andy Bradshaw (2) and Gareth Jones. The Jones try was a memorable effort thanks to an excellent run through the heart of the Miners? defence by Dave Roberson.
The Miners drew back to 28-18 on 33 minutes when Chowings picked up a spilled bomb but Cardiff restored a 16-point lead at the break with a second from Gareth Jones.
Cardiff?s Karl Jones who extended their lead on 52 minutes completing a fine try involving good handling from Anthony Loxton before academy graduate Pat Howell took Cardiff further ahead with his debut try for the club thanks to a gap manufactured by Peter Moore. Swansea finally responded on 65 minutes when Andy Lustig got over the line on the last tackle, but the Demons wrapped up a 54-22 victory with tries from Rhodri Thomas and Idris Evans.
NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES (all at Aberavon Greenstars RFC) 11.00 Welsh Under 17 Final - Cardiff Demons v Aberavon Fighting Irish 12.30 Total RL.com Welsh Shield Final - Newport Titans v Cardiff Demons 14.30 Total RL.com Welsh Grand Final - Bridgend Blue Bulls v Aberavon Fighting Irish