Neath V Aberavon
Wednesday 15th September 2004, 7.15pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

NEATH 25 points ABERAVON nil
The Blacks were comfortable winners of this “non League” fixture against Aberavon but it must be said that their performance left a lot to be desired.

Neath dominated the possession stakes and territorially but, with 10 changes from Saturday’s side that overwhelmed Cardiff and a spate of substitutions, there was a distinct lack of cohesion about their play and several try-scoring opportunities went abegging. Perhaps that was to be expected but the Blacks could so easily have doubled their score with a little more steadiness.

Neath fielded a back division with an average age of just 21 and Neil Clapham had an excellent game at fullback and scored one of Neath’s three tries, replacement wing Mark Harvey getting two. Wayne Mitchell was always a handful in the centre and scrum-half Martin Roberts linked nicely with James Hook who added 10 poinst to his burgeoning season’s tally.

Up front, hooker Darren Poland was always in the thick of things, while young props Alun Wyn Davies, Craig Mitchell and flanker Tom Smith did well.

Both sides employed a host of replacements and Aberavon suffered a couple of injuries that will hopefully not prove too serious for their forthcoming League games.

The game was well handled by referee David Williams (Caldicot) and suggests that that Neath have more depth and exciting young talent waiting in the wings than Aberavon as the Blacks settled an 11th consecutive victory over their neighbours.

Neath – Neil Clapham; Richard Carter, Andrew Bishop (Aled Bevan), Wayne Mitchell, Nick Jones (Mark Harvey); James Hook, Martin Roberts (Mark Davies); Alun Wyn Davies (Cai Griffiths), Darren Poland (Andrew Littlehales), Andrew Howell (Craig Mitchell); Ian Evans (Steve Martin), Chris Gittins (captain); Tom Smith, Hywel Jenkins (John McPhail), James Davies (Neil Senio)

MRS. EVELYN MAINWARING
All involved with Neath rugby were deeply saddened to hear last week of the death of Mrs. Evelyn Mainwaring.

The "Evelyn" was superfluous really because to us all she was simply "Mrs. M", a wonderful character who was synonymous with this evening's visitors Aberavon RFC whom she supported through thick and thin. Moreover, she was blessed with a voice that would easily carry from the stand to the centre of the field and it is fair to say that certain referees lived in fear of one of her verbal onslaughts.

She was already a "legend" when I started watching Neath as a small child and I recall her in The Gnoll stand demanding that Brian Thomas or Barrie Davies (probably both !) should "Leave my Billy alone !" and, adding for good measure, "You watch them ref !"

The Billy in question was, of course, her son and a truly great Aberavon forward who was capped by Wales in 1967, an achievement of which Mrs. Mainwaring was justifiably proud. As a rugby supporter, she was absolutely loyal to her own side but respected opponents too. And when the game was over, win or lose, she would enjoy the company of opposing players and fans and became the friend of so many.

Tales of Mrs. M. are legion and Dai Parker, our ex-scrum-half, tells one classic. Back in the 1960's, players often helped out neighbouring clubs on "permit" and so it was that Dai went off to help Aberavon at Cross Keys one wet Wednesday evening.

Dai's small frame was eagerly seized upon by a Cross Keys forward intent upon mischief only for Mrs. Mainwaring to screech from the stand, "Leave him alone, you so and so - Billy, you mind him." The following Saturday, Neath played Aberavon and Dai resumed his normal position in the Neath side. Soon the Aberavon forwards piled through and all Dai heard from the stand was, "Billy, knock that Black so and so's head off."

Of course, she fully appreciated the irony of the situation and was first to laugh about it afterwards and it was that kind of terrace humour that separated Welsh rugby from other sports - not the over-seriousness that some seem willing to peddle these days.

Aberavon, Neath-Aberavon and Welsh rugby will be all the poorer for the loss of one of its great characters. Tributes are most usually paid to players but as a supporter Mrs. Mainwaring was simply unique. What other rugby supporter, male or female, could have packed out a tribute dinner ? She will be sorely missed by supporters and players of both sides and prior to tonight's kick off, a minute's silence will be observed in her memory. MP