Neath V Bridgend
Wednesday 26th April 2006, 7.15pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

NEATH 40 BRIDGEND 19
Wonderful scenes greeted the final whistle at The Gnoll where Neath completed back-to-back League titles – yet another first for the Welsh All Blacks – with a well deserved victory over combative runners-up Bridgend in a captivating encounter that was a totally fitting finale to the title chase and a credit to the Principality Premiership.

The game underlined another superb season for Neath who have so far lost only once – at Pontypridd back on September 10th – and they have now put together a record-breaking run of 24 successive league victories.

Neath took an early lead after five minutes when sustained pressure in the Bridgend 22 took its inevitable toll and ended in winger Richard Johnston sending No. 8 Hywel Jenkins in at the corner for the game’s first try which outside-half James Hook converted from the left touchline. The Blacks were boiling and five minutes later a tap penalty from scrum-half Martin Roberts saw immense prop Paul Jones send a delighted fellow prop Craig Mitchell in for the second try that Hook once more converted from the touchline, this time on the right.

With centre Wayne Mitchell requiring treatment for a cut head, Bridgend hit Back with an all-too-easy try off the back of a scrum by flanker Adam Whitney which full-back Matthew Hutchings converted but a Hook penalty stretched Neath;s lead before they lost centre Mitchell to a second cut and skipper Steve Martin with a leg injury. Bad tackling then let in Hutchings for Bridgend’s second try which he goaled from wide out to make it 17-14 but in the final minute of the half the forwards drove off Martin Morgan’s lineout take and fit-again No. 8 Jenkins bagged his second try of the night which Hook again converted with aplomb, making it 24-14 at the break.

Neath did not clear their lines from the restart and Bridgend came again with a third try by wing Richard Radford but the Blacks turned the screw and Bridgend lost their discipline leading to two Hook penalties that made it 30-19 to the home side. The Blacks were now in the ascendancy and after a rousing surge by the home forwards, centre Wayne Mitchell clattered his way through a group of tacklers and was driven over for Neath’s fourth try. As the presentation party headed by the Principality Building Society's Neath branch manager Jeremy Evans, along with WRU chief executive Steve Lewis and Rupert Moon, steeled themselves for their task, the Blacks emphasised their superiority with a fifth try scored by speedy forward Ben Davies out on the left.

The game ended on a sad note when Bridgend prop Thomas Hurne broke his ankle and referee Neil Ballard blew his whistle to signal Neath’s 14th championship title – their 4th since Leagues were instituted – and a mini pitch invasion.

So with the league trophy safely installed at The Gnoll for another year – and in record time with four League games still to go – the Blacks march on, determined to maintain their ground record against Maesteg this Saturday before trips to Bedwas on Bank Holiday Monday and, of course, to the Millennium Stadium and the Cup Final against Pontypridd on May 6th. It’s going to be quite a finish !

NEATH – N.Clapham; S.Thomas, G.Morris, W.Mitchell (A.Thomas), R.Johnston; J.Hook, M.Roberts (G.James); P.Jones (A.Howell), A.Littlehales (G.Price), C.Mitchell; S.Martin (captain) (D.McShane), M.Morgan; B.Davies, H.Jenkins (A.Llewellyn), J.McPhail (S.Pengelly)
BRIDGEND – M.Hutchings; R.Howells, R.Davies, C.Tossell, R.Radford (N.Trowbridge); M.David, N.Griffiths (B.Roach); C.Voisey (T.Hurne), A.Joy (A.Phillips), G.Long (G.Alexander); H.Alford, T.Evans; G.Williams, A.Williams (captain), A.Whitney
Referee : Mr. N.Ballard (Cardiff)