Bedwas V Neath
Monday 1st May 2006

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

BEDWAS 12 NEATH 59

Neath passed 1,000 League points for the season with a resounding victory over Bedwas who, with wind advantage, competed strongly in the first-half before being blown away by a Neath side that shows no indication of taking its foot of the gas.

Those end-of-season twins of adversity - strong wind and hard pitch - made for some early errors that were compounded by Neath mistakes but the Blacks were in confident mood and they took the lead after good play by lively scrum-half Martin Roberts and lock Ben Davies set up an opportunity that full back Gareth Morris made the most of to score at the posts for Arwel Thomas to convert. Neath lost flanker Simon Pengelly with a hand injury and, when they were down to 14 men, Bedwas were rewarded for a period of concerted play with a try at the posts by home captain Andy Harrison but Thomas somehow stretched himself full length and charged down the conversion attempt.

The Blacks responded by taking play to the Bedwas try-line and eventually the lively Roberts dashed over from a quickly taken tap to score and Thomas converted. Then the ex-Wales outside-half intercepted inside his own 22 and dashed 80 metres or so, outstripping the defence, for Neath’s third that he converted before retiring with a minor leg strain. Bedwas claimed their second try by full back Lee Mullane, centre Phil Dolman converting, to make it 21-12 at the interval after which Neath would enjoy the benefit of a strong wind.

As expected, Neath dominated the second-half against an increasingly ragged Bedwas team. Commanding affairs territorially, good forward play set up an attacking position from which wing Richard Johnston split the defence for Neath’s fourth try and centre Aled Bevan added the conversion points. Then replacement No.8 Dan McShane confirmed his growing stature with another storming display and he crossed for the fifth, Bevan again converting. Bedwas lock Rhodri Edwards was carded for a professional foul and Neath used an attacking lineout won by Ben Davies to secure a sixth touch-down – a first of the season by young prop Alun Wyn Davies.

Not to be outdone, rampaging replacement tight-head Craig Mitchell then got in on the act and went to the head of the coveted League top try-scoring prop charts with the seventh that Bevan converted. Martin Roberts then flew out of Neath’s own 22 to send wing Gareth James racing to the corner for their eighth before Roberts set the seal with a glorious individual score from all of 70 yards, evading all chasers, to squeeze in at the corner and Bevan goaled magnificently from wide out.

Another grand effort by the All Blacks who would have scored more had time been added on for all the times the ball went out of play with no spare readily available.

NEATH – G.Morris; G.James, A.Bevan, N.Clapham, R.Johnston; A.Thomas (W.Mitchell), M.Roberts; P.Jones (A.W.Davies), A.Littlehales (E.Shervington), A.Howell (C.Mitchell); H.Jenkins, B.Davies; S.Pengelly (D.McShane), J.Davies, L.Beach

BEDWAS – L.Mullane; S.Senkala (D.Jones) (S.Woollacott), P.Dolman, A.Harrison (captain), N.Hill; R.edwrads, H.Trelawney; N.Downes (J.Tilley), P.McGhee (D.Odelston), J.Salter; B.Griffiths (R.Edwards), K.Leonard; S.Pape, D.Brake (C.Edwrads), M.Vaughan
Referee – Mr. H.David (Cefn Cribbwr)