World Footy News

The 2012 Welsh Australian Rules Football League season got off to an explosive start over the weekend as the first round of matches saw two massive scores posted as the Cardiff Panthers and Swansea Magpies looked to assert their dominance.

Having won the WARFL Premiership for the last 3 years, and having gone for all of 2011 undefeated, the Panthers picked up where they left off with a huge win over the Vale Warriors.

The Panthers started the game at a fast pace and scored their first goal within seconds of the opening bounce. Great Britain ruckman Chris James knocked the ball forward and Brian Sparkes, making his Panthers debut got the first goal of the game.

The goals then continued to flow for the Panthers as the relatively inexperienced Warriors team struggled to keep pace with the Panthers European, British, Welsh and Scottish international players.

Calum Newman kept working hard for the Warriors and was rewarded for his ruck play with 2 goals. However, Owain Rylands, playing his first ever Aussie Rules game, scored 5 goals as the Panthers dominated and despite some positive play from the Vale and the match drew on, the Panthers won 34.12.205 – 7.7.49

2009 and 2010 Grand Finalists also won big on the weekend, as they defeated the visiting Cardiff Double Blues. Having struggled to even field a team at times last year, the Magpie seem to be back to their winning ways as they won 22.22.154 – 3.3.21 against an inexperienced Blues side.

The Double Blues fielded 7 debutants in the game as the Magpies looked to reassert the authority they held in the league two seasons ago.

The weekend's other scheduled game, Bristol Dockers vs Bridgend Eagles is due to be rearranged due to a waterlogged pitch.