Cardiff Demons
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| Demon | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Cardiff Demons Rugby League Football Club |
| Website | Cardiff Demons website |
| Colours | Black, red and white |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
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| Competition | Rugby League Conference |
Cardiff Demons RLFC were a rugby league side who played out of St. Peters RFC in the east of Cardiff, Wales. They played in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.
Cardiff Demons were formed in 1997 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. The Demons reached the Grand Final of the Academy Division Two in their second season but lost to Hunslet Hawks.
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 National League side Keighley Cougars.
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 Jon Breakingbury on to the professional ranks when he signed for Sheffield Eagles. Their continued success inspired other clubs from around Wales to form.
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.
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