28 Aug 2022

Cardiff Demons deliver Grand Final masterclass

Cardiff Demons were at their devastating best as they retained the Betfred Women’s Super League South trophy with a convincing Grand Final victory over London Broncos at Pandy Park in Gwent.

Broncos were the only team to defeat the Demons in the regular season, but revenge was sweet and for the side with the best points-for-and-against record in 2022.

Outstanding in attack and defence throughout the season, the Demons displayed all their finest qualities from first minute to last, with Wales international and hat-trick hero Leanne Burrell outstanding throughout alongside player of the match Amberley Ruck.

And while Broncos can be proud of how far they’ve travelled in just two seasons and of their collective efforts on the day, the Welsh were simply a class apart on the day.

Demons second row Charlie Mundy thought she’d opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute following smart play by Burrell and Elerie Michael, whose inside pass to Charlie Mundy was adjudged by referee Michael Holmes to have been spilled over the line by Mundy in the act of scoring.

But the Demons wouldn’t be denied four minutes later when Mundy proved too hot to handle for the Broncos defence and fed Molly Reardon who laid on the perfect offload for outstanding full-back Burrell to open the scoring.

And on 15 minutes an eye-catching dummy and break by stand-off Amberley Ruck created the opportunity for Mundy to go cross for Cardiff’s second try, the second-row converting her own try to put the Demons 10-0 ahead.

The Demons thought they’d scored again on 26 minutes through Burrell only to be pulled back for an obstruction infringement, but a wonderful long-range effort from winger Brittony Price, capitalising on smart work again from Burrell, extended the Demons lead to 14-0 before the Broncos’ Lauren Mueller finally gave her side some hope just before half time with a well taken try in the left corner.

Mueller’s try gave Broncos hope, but nothing more. On 45 minutes, Burrell broke from half way to put the Demons further ahead and Briony King crossed seven minutes later as the Demons put the outcome beyond doubt at 24-4. Then winger Eleri Michael added the final touch to another sweeping Demons attack, before Burrell completed the scoring with her hat trick try at the death.

Teams

London Broncos