Bridgend V Neath
Saturday April 2nd 2005, 5.30pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

BRIDGEND 20 NEATH 17
Neath's championship ambitions took a blow when a late penalty by wing Grant Epton gave Bridgend only a fifth victory in 30 games against the Blacks since leagues were introduced in 1990.

Just like the final game of last season at Pontypool which was also refereed by Mr. Barry Gregory (Llandough), it was an untidy game; opportunities for back-play and passing movements were minimal, penalties dominated the proceedings and, inevitably, the final scoreline.

Bridgend took the lead with a fifth-minute penalty by wing Grant Epton but Neath nudged ahead when Shaun Connor latched onto a poor pass by their former outside-half Paul Williams and the Ospreys' man ran 25 metres for an unconverted try which saw him pass 1,000 league points. Two Connor penalties sent the Blacks into an 11-3 lead but two Epton efforts into the wind made it 9-11 before Connor's third penalty made it 14-9 at halftime.

With lock Ian Evans and No.8 Hywel Jenkins at the fore of the forward effort, the Blacks needed a try to make the game safe but they had to be content with a fourth goal by Connor. Bridgend hit back with a try by Ospreys winger Richard Mustoe but only after the referee had ignored his touch-judge's call of a forward pass which halted the Neath defence. A rarity of the modern game saw Neath wing Aled Brew charge down Epton's conversion but soon afterwards the ex-Maesteg man levelled affairs at 17-17 with his fourth penalty.

Connor missed a penalty as Neath sought the score they needed but with players allowed to live offside, slow down the ball at the rucks and even lineout forwards being upended, the Blacks could not generate any flow. The forwards had difficulty clearing out the tackle-area where ball-delivery was slow and as a result the backs saw little useful ball. It came as no surprise when, with just a minute remaining, Epton landed his fifth penalty to steal the game.

Coach Rowland Phillips could not contain his disappointment at the quality of refereeing which never allowed the fast game in the Welsh and Ospreys' style to develop. Perhaps Neath need to "cheat" better when the occasion demands !

Fortunately, the situation is not irredeemable and the net result is that Neath still need at least three more wins to succeed Newport as league champions - a win at Pontypool next Saturday is now high priority.

Neath v Bridgend - G.Morris (captain); A.Brew, A.Bishop, W.Mitchell, N.Clapham; S.Connor, Mark Davies; A.Howell, A.Littlehales (E.Shervington), C.Griffiths; S.Martin (C.Gittins), I.Evans; L.Beach, H.Jenkins, A.Senio (A.Llewellyn)