Neath V Aberavon
Saturday 26th December 2005, 2.30pm Kick-Off.

MATCH REPORT (Al Black)

(Photographs by Club Photographer, Julian Brock - Click Here)

(Photographs by Mike Greenslade - click here)

NEATH 31 ABERAVON 23
A record Premiership crowd of 7,198 attended this traditional Boxing Day encounter that was won by a Neath side that, although some way below their best, still held too many aces for Aberavon.

With such an excellent crowd, it was a pity that the All Blacks were not allowed to put on a real show for the paying spectators – that they did not was down to two factors : an effectively organised Aberavon team and the inconsistent whistle of the referee who too often discouraged enterprise and condoned negativity.

After an early exchange of penalties between the League’s top scorers James Hook and Jamie Davies, the scores were tied at 6-6 when Aberavon centre David Hawkins was sin-binned for a late tackle. Poor Hawkins was a little unlucky in becoming the first yellow recipient as more serious transgressions (killing the ball five metres out and a flurry of punches thrown at a scrum) had earned mere verbal warnings.

Neath made it count when inventive outside-half Arwel Thomas collected his own chip ahead to score the game’s opening try. But, having branded his yellow card one way, the referee resorted to it again, despatching both Hywel Jenkins and Ed Shervington to the bin in separate incidents before allowing a highly dubious corner touchdown by Aberavon wing Daran Griffiths. The “try” may have lacked downward pressure but there was no doubting Davies’ wonderful conversion that made it 13-11 to the visitors at halftime.

After the interval Davies and Hook again exchanged penalties as Neath, down to 13 men, started firing. With Jenkins back on the field, they conjured up a second try when centre Aled Bevan’s through kick was seized upon by Hook who skated over to become the first Premier player to reach 200 points this season. His conversion made it 21-16 to the Blacks.

As the game opened up a little, Neath looked more and more dangerous. When Davies put in a wayward clearance, home winger Richard Johnston bamboozled Griffiths before sending Hook in for his seventh try of the season that he converted before adding his fourth penalty just after Afan hooker Chris Wells was harshly carded for a dangerous tackle on Arwel Thomas.

At 31-16 the game was well and truly Neath’s but Aberavon, buoyed late-on by a stream of penalties that mystified the home supporters (Wales’ most attacking team were on the receiving end of a 7-19 count !) , were given late consolation with a try by full back Liam Gadd that Davies converted.

In the end, Neath were good value for their win but Aberavon will take heart from having competed for long periods of the game. There was sufficient Christmas excitement for the large crowd – let’s hope many return in the New Year !

Neath – S.Taumalolo; S.Thomas (N.Clapham), A.Bevan, J.Hook, R.Johnston; A.Thomas, P.Horgan (M.Roberts); P.Jones (A.Howell), E.Shervington (G.Price), C.Griffiths (C.Mitchell); S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; A.Llewellyn, B.Davies, J.McPhail (J.Davies)

Aberavon – L.Gadd; D.Griffiths, P.Bamsey, David Hawkins (D.Ryan), J.Taylor (G.Knox); J.Davies, Daniel Hawkins ; M.Harris (L.Howell), C.Wells (C.Richards), A.Edwards; A.Fisher (P.Morgan), C.Gittins (captain); D.Thomas (R.Morris), I.Moore, S.Peters

Referee – Mr. D.R.Davies (Llanbradach)