Neath V Bedwas
Wednesday April 27th 2005, 7.15pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

NEATH 70 BEDWAS 5

THE BLACKS ARE CHAMPIONS !
Neath sealed the Welsh Premier Division title at The Gnoll when they blitzed Bedwas with another brilliant display that carried their points for total in the last four home games to an amazing 297.

After a season's hard work and dedication by everyone involved, Neath and the fans were able to celebrate and, while many felt that the trophy was always destined for The Gnoll after an opening sequence of 15 straight victories, there had been no counting of chickens at The Gnoll until Newport's challenge was mathematically and clinically ruled out.

Bedwas managed a draw at The Gnoll last season but this time they were unable to derail the Neath juggernaut that has gathered momentum so massively in the last month. The Welsh All Blacks looked a little nervous in the opening exchanges but once they opened their account in the 10th minute through a fine try by centre Andrew Bishop, there was no stopping them as The Gnoll began to party.

The Blacks began to gather pace and a splendid individual try by Hook doubled their advantage. Neath continued to move the ball at every opportunity and the "fast game" insisted upon by Rowland Phillips was becoming altogether too much for Bedwas when Bishop bagged his second try and Hook converted.

Bedwas rallied briefly through a pushover try from flanker Owen Ankers but Neath got back on track when scrum-half Patrick Horgan touched down and then on the stroke of half-time Hook glided over for his second try.

That score took the young outside-half past the club individual points record of 446 points set in 2001/02 by Lee Jarvis - a feat made all the more magnificent by the fact that James is in his first season of senior rugby.

As the halftime whistle sounded, Neath led 27-5 and the celebrations could almost begin but they signed off in style with another 40 minutes of wonderful rugby that emphasised their class. Inside five minutes of the restart, two more tries came from prop Cai Griffiths and winger Richard Johnston, Hook converting the latter.

Thrilling passing movements abounded and more tries quickly followed as first the outstanding No 8 Lee Beach crossed and then replacement wing Aled Bevan intercepted. Hook converted both to make it 53-5 and the outside-half was then withdrawn to rapturous applause from The Gnoll diehards.

Whether coach Rowland Phillips realised it or not, Hook's departure could not have been more aptly timed for his fourth conversion of the evening was his 100th in the League this season and it signalled his reaching the 400-point mark in League games alone.

Not that there was any respite for Bedwas. Hook's replacement was Wales' top try-scorer Neil Clapham who demonstrated his versatility. This time, slotting in at 10, his dancing feet saw him add two more tries to his season's tally.

In between, there was time for a cameo appearance by popular hooker Darren Poland (back on permit from Bonymaen) and "Mr. Consistency" centre Wayne Mitchell (if ever there were an award for "unsung" hero surely he would win it ?) crossed the try-line too.

Bevan supplied the final conversion that carried Neath to 70 points and amidst scenes of mass-celebration from the jubilant Neath fans, WRU chairman David Pickering presented Neath captain Gareth Morris with the championship bowl. The team were mobbed and greeted by a sea of smiling fans that packed the area in front of the Dressing Room stand.

It was a highly appropriate venue for, while that stand on the famous old ground was built after Neath's first championship triumphs were won before the Great War by Frank Rees and his warriors, it has witnessed so many past triumphs.

From Tom Evans' record-breakers of 1928/29 through the pre-war champions led by Arthur Hickman and Glyn Daniel; from the first post-war champions led by Cliff Williams who beat Llanelly in their final game at The Gnoll to take the title to Brian Thomas' marvellous fighters who beat Newport in the rain to more or less settle the 1966/67 title.

Throw in all the triumphs of the Jonathan Davies, Paul Thorburn and Kevin Phillips era and the last championship celebration of Gareth Llewellyn's 1995/96 side and that old stand has seen the lot !

This time it bore witness to the Blacks of 2004/05. Champions now in name as well as in deed and no-one can deny them their right. 160 tries already (a record), 1168 points another, fewest tries against, a ridiculously one-sided points ratio - the records have tumbled as quickly as have opponents.

The Blacks also maintained an unbeaten ground record and they now go to Newport on Saturday, a little under-strength due to Osprey demands, for a showdown of last year's champions against this year's. Then it's down to Swansea on Bank Holiday Monday (kick off 2.30pm).

Neath v Bedwas - G.Morris (capt); A.Brew (A.Bevan), A.Bishop, W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; J.Hook (N.Clapham), P.Horgan (Mark Davies); A.Howell (P.Jones), A.Littlehales (D.Poland), C.Griffiths (A.Howell), S.Martin, I.Evans (C.Gittins); B.Davies (A.Llewellyn), L.Beach, J.McPhail.

MATCH PREVIEW

Neath v Bedwas - Wed. April 27th, 2005
Neath will capture the Welsh Premier Division title if they get a point out of their game with Bedwas at The Gnoll tomorrow evening (Wednesday), kick off 7.15pm.

The Blacks make just two changes from the side that beat Ebbw Vale 58-12 on Saturday with powerhouse prop Andrew Howell and young blindside flanker Ben Davies swapping places with Paul Jones and Andy Llewellyn who are on the replacements' bench. Neath are hoping to borrow an experienced hooker for the bench as Ed Shervington has Hartpury College commitments.

The Gnoll club have reduced admission charges and for just £ 1, everyone under-16 will be allowed into the Family Stand and the terraces.

Coach Rowland Phillips said, "After finishing runners-up in the last two years, we are now within one step of winning the Premier title but we know that Bedwas will be out to spoil our party. They showed what they are capable of in the second-half up there and are one of the most under-rated sides in the Premier Division. They are well capable of providing a shock and we are aware that they and ourselves were the only sides to defeat last year's champions Newport. Championships don't come along every year and I hope Neath fans come out in numbers to witness what we hope will be a little bit of Welsh All Black history. We will be on our guard but enter the match with confidence after scoring 227 points in our last three games at The Gnoll."

Team :- G.Morris (capt); A.Brew, A.Bishop, W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; J.Hook, P.Horgan; A.Howell, A.Littlehales, C.Griffiths; S.Martin, I.Evans; B.Davies, L.Beach, J.McPhail Replacements - A.Bevan, N.Clapham, M.Davies, P.Jones, A.N.Other, C.Gittins, A.Llewellyn