Cardiff Demons

Infobox_esl_club | clubname = Cardiff Demons


fullname = "Cardiff Demons Rugby League Football Club"
emblem = Demon
colours = Black, red and white
founded = 1997
sport = rugby league
league = Rugby League Conference
ground = St.Peters RFC, Cardiff (Coordinates: 51°29′31.90″N, 3°09′01.45″W)
web = [http://www.cardiffdemons.com www.cardiffdemons.com]

Cardiff Demons RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of St.Peters RFC in the east of Cardiff, Wales. They are the current East Wales Rugby League Conference Premier champions, which is a division of the Rugby League Conference.

History

Cardiff Demons were formed in the late 1990s as an Academy level club, competing in the Lower Division of the Rugby League Academy competition against young players from professional outfits in the North of England. They amalgamated with the UWIC University side in 1999 to play in the 1999-2000 Rugby League Challenge Cup. This was a great success with Cardiff beating Durham and Rochdale Mayfield to reach the third round losing to a much stronger Keighley Cougars side.

Due to the success of this great Cup run, in 2001, they joined the Central South Division of the Rugby League Conference. Playing at St. Peter’s RFC, a small club two miles north of the city centre, the Demons succeeded in finishing in a creditable third place and came within seconds of pulling off a major upset at Hemel Stags, only to be denied when the highly rated Stags scored a last-second try. Another notable success from the Demons’ inaugural season was the graduation of winger John Breakingbury on to the professional ranks when he signed for Sheffield Eagles.

For the 2002 season the Demons moved to the well appointed surroundings of Old Penarthians RFC in the seaside district of Penarth. Again competing in the Central South Division Cardiff defeated Worcester, Oxford Cavaliers and Gloucestershire Warriors home and away to secure the runners up spot. The clashes with Gloucestershire will long be remembered; the Demons won the season opener 44-36 away in a see-saw battle which saw the lead change hands four times, but even that contest was eclipsed by the excitement of the return match. Cardiff squandered a 22-8 lead to trail 28-22 with five minutes remaining. A late converted try and a last minute drop goal from Evan Powell turned the tables to give the Demons an unlikely 29-28 victory. The season was also marked by a visit to the York Nines and an invitation to enter the Rugby League Challenge Cup, which resulted in a memorable trip to play Shaw Cross Sharks of Dewsbury.

2003 saw the Demons go from strength to strength, finishing top of the South West Conference with an excellent record of nine wins and only one defeat, their biggest wins being 90-0 and 100-8, both over local rivals Bristol Sonics. The former was an historic day for the city of Cardiff all round with local football side, Cardiff City beating Bristol City only two hours earlier. The Demons lost in the play-offs to Welsh side, Bridgend Blue Bulls, this match being featured on Sky Sports’ magazine programme, Boots N' All.

2003 saw the departure of Aled James. He and Wes Palmer both represented Great Britain Rugby League students on their tour down under, with Aled signing for Widnes Vikings at the conclusion of this tour. Although former Demons players had previously gone on to play Super League, this was the first time that a Super League club had signed a player directly from them benefiting the club financially in the short term.

In 2004, the Demons moved to Taffs Well, joined the Welsh Conference and won two trophies. First was the Welsh Shield after beating Newport Titans with a last minute try from the superb Gareth Jones, then beating Thorne Moor Marauders in National Shield despite a strong second-half comeback from the Yorkshiremen.

2005 saw a season of consolidation with the Demons having a slightly better league record but losing in the first round of the play-offs to Valley Cougars.

The club has lost just two players to Celtic Crusaders with Andre Boon and Oliver Hughes departing to join the new professional club based in Bridgend.

The Demons moved back to St Peters RFC after one home match of 2006 following poor service from Taff's Well RFC.

Honours

* RLC South West Champions 2003
* Welsh Shield Winners 2004
* RLC Shield Winners 2004
* Welsh Nines Winners 2006
* South East Wales Champions 2006

Records

* Year Formed: 1997
* Previous Grounds: Old Penarthians RFC, 1997-2000, St Peters RFC, 2001, Old Penarthians RFC, 2002-2003, Taffs Well RFC, 2004-2006
* Record League victory: 100-8 vs. Bristol Sonics, RLC South West Division, 2003.
* Record Cup victory: 36-6 vs. Durham, Rugby League Challenge Cup First Round, 1999-2000.
* Heaviest Defeat 0-90 vs. Keighley Cougars, Rugby League Challenge Cup Third Round, 1999-2000.

ee also

* Celtic Crusaders
* Wales national rugby league team
* Rugby League in Wales
* Rugby League Conference
* Rugby League National Leagues

External links

* [http://www.cardiffdemons.com Cardiff Demons official website]
* [http://wales.rleague.com Official Wales Rugby League website]
* [http://www.ianlovell.com Official Wales Rugby League photographer's website]