Neath V Bridgend
Saturday 31st December 2005, 2.30pm KO.

MATCH REPORT (Al Black)

(Photographs by Club Photographer - Julian Brock - click here)

(Additional photographs by Mike Greenslade - click here)

BRIDGEND 16 NEATH 25
Neath took another giant step towards the Premiership title with this battling win at Bridgend who entered the game in second place in the table and included Nathan Budgett who has apparently transferred to Bristol only to be loaned back for a month.

The Blacks made 10 changes from the side that started against Aberavon and, in the first-half, never really got into their stride against a keyed-up home side. Bridgend took the lead when full back Gareth David kicked a penalty after Siua Taumalolo was yellow-carded for a high tackle. But the Blacks hit back when hooker Gerwyn Price initiated a surge into the home 22 and the ball was swept sweetly across the line for lock Martin Morgan to cross for the first try. Centre James Hook converted but the rest of the half proved unfruitful as too many Neath attacks failed for lack of support for the ball-carrier. Neath lost lock Ben Davies with a shoulder injury but replacement Andy Llewellyn gave added zest in the loose where acting-skipper Hywel Jenkins set a tremendous example. Before halftime, David landed his second penalty, assisted by it being advanced 10 metres through indiscipline, and Neath entered the interval just 7-6 up with the wind to face so Bridgend were probably happier.

A David-Hook interchange of penalties greeted the opening of the second-half and Bridgend, sustaining possession, came up against a solid Neath defence. The ball took a kind rebound from a tackle though and Bridgend scythed through for a try by skipper Michael Powell that David converted to make it 16-10 in the home side’s favour.

However, Powell blotted his copy-book when Neath attacked and he was sin-binned for killing the ball with the Blacks threatening a score. They opted for the kick to touch instead of goal and, from the resultant lineout, the forwards took up the drive and the hard-working Morgan plunged over acrobatically for his second try to cut the arrears to but a single point.

With quality replacements of the calibre of Paul Jones, John McPhail and Pat Horgan having been summoned from the bench, Neath picked up the pace and the forwards started to drive massive inroads into the home defence with some powerful mauling. On the attack again, Neath got back in front with a snap dropped goal by Hook and the Blacks sealed it when they moved slow ball, Taumalolo and Gareth Morris making the running, before Arwel Thomas scampered across for their third try that Hook converted.

The Neath forwards now had a stranglehold on affairs and were content to play out the remainder of the game before the final whistle went much to the delight of the All Black majority in another good holiday crowd that delighted the Bridgend club. Neath now lead the table by six points but next up is another top versus second affair as Pontypridd have now jumped over Bridgend – all roads will lead to The Gnoll on the first Saturday of 2006 !

Bridgend – G.David; R.Howells, R.Davies, L.Thomas, N.Trowbridge; P.Williams, B.Roach; T.Hearne, A.Joy (I.Dobbs), G.Alexander (G.Long); H.Alford (D.Edwards), M.Powell (captain); N.Budgett, A.Williams, A.Whitney

Neath – G.Morris; N.Clapham, S.Taumalolo, J.Hook, R.Johnston; A.Thomas, M.Roberts (P.Horgan); C.Griffiths, G.Price (E.Shervington), C.Mitchell (P.Jones); B.Davies (A.Llewellyn), M.Morgan; D.McShane, H.Jenkins (J.McPhail), J.Davies

Referee – Mr. N.Owens (Pontyberem)