R League: Blue Bulls braced for a Titan-ic tussle

Aug 3 2007 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

BRIDGEND Blue Bulls will be aiming for their fifth successive Welsh rugby league title when they take on Newport Titans at the Brewery Field in the Co-operative Welsh Conference final tomorrow (1pm).

Bridgend finished top of the Conference table losing just one game throughout the regular season, while Newport, after leading the competition for the first half of the season, eventually finished in third place.

Both sides overcame tough opposition last week to eventually record handsome wins to qualify for the showpiece occasion.

The Blue Bulls will be without Matthew Hutchings and Paul Smithson for the final after they both suffered injuries in last weekend’s semi-final win over Valley Cougars and they are replaced by Marc Davies and Neil Dixon.

Bulls’ stalwart Carle Ellis will start Saturday’s final from the bench and he will become the only player to have appeared in all five Welsh finals if he comes on.

In their last encounter just four weeks ago the Blue Bulls beat the Titans 28-26 after scoring two tries in the final three minutes to secure victory

Blue Bulls: Marc Davies, Lenny Woodard, Christian Roets, Geraint Lewis, Paul Morgan, Gareth David, Neil Dixon, Jon Purnell (capt), Dan Williams, Anthony Isaac, Ross Megraw, Karl Hocking, Simon Mustoe. SUBS: Craig Fox, Arran Warner, Carle Ellis, Matthew Morgan, Tevita Manaseitava.

Titans (from): Scott Beaffant, Sam McCoy, Lewis Culverwell, Martin Cawley, Greg Callow, Ross Palmer, Ben Morris, Vinnie Lott, Tyron Mahoney, Mark Wheeler, Barrie Phillips, Lewis Fox, Joe Mills, Damien Hudd, Chris Vitalini, Ryan Fenton, Ross Bridgeman, Shane Reagan, Dave Pugsley.