Neath V Caerphilly
Tuesday 30th March 2004

MATCH REPORT

NEATH 57 CAERPHILLY 20 (by Phil Space)
Neath narrowed the gap on League leaders Newport to just three points -when they outplayed fellow Welsh Cup semi-finalists Caerphilly at The Gnoll on Tuesday evening.

The Blacks are buzzing and this 9-try romp has lifted them to within touching distance of the Rodney Paraders but first they must overcome Bedwas on their own patch on Saturday - no easy task.

Neath went ahead in the first minute and never looked back as their forwards, although inconvenienced in the tight, packed too much power and the electric pace of their backline was too much to hold.

Winger Richard Johnston bagged the first try from a Hywel Jenkins kick, later repeated the dose from a John Leyshon nudge and made it a hat-trick when he joined the threes after a second-half surge by the forwards.

But the performance that had everyone talking was that of outside-half Matthew Jones who looked a class apart. Since sailing past Byron Hayward to score at Ebbw Vale, the young pivot's confidence has come on leaps and bounds and Caerphilly felt the full blast of his burgeoning talent.

He too got a try-hat-trick. His first came from a glorious solo break, then in the second-half he added two more. His second was sharp but the third, a dancing effort to the posts, was Welsh outside-half play at its best. Jones kicked six conversions too to build a match-tally of 27 points before being replaced and he received a wonderful reception from The Gnoll faithful.

Aside from the hat-tricks, Neath scored three other tries that had more to do with the traditional Neath virtue of solid forward work. Prop Andrew Howell went over from a lineout early in the first half, flanker Andrew Llewellyn crossed for Neath's 100th League try in the second before John McPhail finished it all off.

Caerphilly used first-half wind advantage to register a try by flanker Sione Topulete. Outside-half Simon Thomas converted and landed two penalties to stem it to 26-13 at halftime. Caerphilly's only second-half riposte was a try by full back Justin Thomas, Stuart Thomas converting.

It will be a whole lot tougher at Bedwas on Saturday but the Blacks travel with confidence after two big home wins against Cup semi-finalists.

Neath v Caerphilly :- P.Bamsey; K.James, A.Bevan, J.Leyshon, R.Johnston; Matthew Jones, P.Horgan (captain);C.griffiths, D.Poland, A.Howell; T.Davies, L.Bateman; B.Sinkinson, H.Jenkins, J.McPhail Replacements : W.Mitchell, C.Anderson, R.Morgan; P.Jones (captain), A.Littlehales, S..Phillips, A.Llewellyn