Bedwas V Neath
Saturday 3rd April 2004

MATCH REPORT

BEDWAS 10 NEATH 21 (by Phil Space)
Neath succeeded where Newport failed but were made to work hard by a determined, destructive home team in difficult conditions at the Bridge Field.

The Blacks showed eight changes from the side that inflicted a half-century on Caerphilly and, with the advantage of a strong wind, were soon six points to the good through two Matthew Jones penalties.

Ex-Neath fly-half Paul Williams pulled one back for the visitors after what looked like a clear cut case of accidental offside but as the rain got heavier the Blacks went further ahead through a try by full back Gareth Morris that Jones converted.

13-3 did not look enough with the wind to face and it looked altogether insufficient when Williams danced up the narrow-side, taking advantage of some clever blocking of would-be tacklers, to score a try and convert himself to make it 13-10.

But then the Neath forwards took control as they effectively denied Bedwas the ball for most of the game to negate the wind. The Blacks went further ahead when they burst downfield and top lineout man Ben Davies crossed wide out and, keeping up the pressure, the visitors sealed it with a third penalty by Jones.

In the end it was the sheer hard teamwork of Neath that saw them through but they were made to fight hard by a spirited Bedwas side who never gave in.

Neath v Bedwas :- G.Morris; K.James, Mike Jones, W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; Matthew Jones, P.Horgan; P.Jones (captain), D.Poland, A.Howell; T.Davies, B.Davies; B.Sinkinson, S.Phillips, S.Peters Replacements : J.Leyshon, C.Anderson, R.Morgan; C.Griffiths, A.Littlehales, R.Phillips, A.Llewellyn