Carmarthen Quins V Neath
Saturday 8th April 2006, 2.30pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

(Photographs by Club Photographer, Julian Brock - Click Here)

CARMARTHEN QUINS 23 NEATH 54

The Welsh All Blacks served up a sparkling 8-try display to complete an emphatic double over Carmarthen Quins at windy Carmarthen Park.

With James Hook doing bench duty for The Ospreys, Neath had the services of a regional player for only the second time this season with Matthew Jones figuring at outside-half and the clever pivot enjoyed himself back in the Black shirt with a 17 point haul.

Things did not start well for the visitors though. After Quins No.8 Alun Mason had been carded by first-rate referee Nigel Whitehouse, the home team took the lead when centre Bevan lost possession in the Quins’ half and winger Matthew Davies sped away to score at the posts for Simon Daniel to convert. Neath responded by forcing a series of scrums on the Quins line and the Blacks were correctly awarded a penalty try that Jones converted.

With the wind at their backs, two Daniel penalties, one from wide out on halfway, sent Quins back in front and Neath conceded a second soft try when Darren Simpson kicked ahead and the bounce eluded Neil Clapham for the centre to touch down and Daniel converted to make it 20-7.

But Neath, showing the hallmark of champions, lifted their effort and retaliated with some blinding rugby. Keeping possession through excellent handling and passing cleverly before contact or around the tackler, the Blacks - forwards and backs - kept the ball alive into the wind and they scored three wonderful tries before the interval that had Quins reeling.

Winger Stephen Thomas, the Premiership’s top try-scorer, supplied the finishing touches to the first two to take his tally to 15 in the League (21 in all) and Matthew Jones converted them both magically into the wind from the right touchline. The Jones-Wayne Mitchell combination revived memories of the Cup winning class of 04 when they set up the position from which Richard Johnston weaved his way through the Quins side, resulting in Aled Bevan touching down to make it 26-20. The game had been transformed and even Daniel’s third penalty, awarded on halftime for a questionable off-side at a scrum, did not dampen Neath’s exuberance.

Indeed, the Blacks started the second-half on the boil and, after going close on a couple of occasions, it was no surprise when Craig Mitchell, with Cai Griffiths an outstanding prop, barged over for Neath’s fifth try that Jones converted. Martin Morgan, Andy Llewellyn and Dan McShane were a huge presence for Neath and Jones’ kick and Johnston’s pressurising then set up an opportunity for the persevering Bevan and Jones converted to make it 40-23.

The Blacks were denied another try when the forwards drove over the line as Quins were unable to break out into the wind and Matthew Jones scored and converted Neath’s seventh try when he grubbered through, collected and touched down before retiring from the fray. Neath had time for one more try and a belter it was too as replacement scrum-half Gareth James raced up the narrow side, veered inside and side-stepped the full back for a try that Gareth Edwards would have been proud of. It was Neath’s 99th League try but would have done justice to the 100th ! Arwel Thomas added the conversion points to set the seal on a truly first-class display and Neath’s 29th win in 30 outings this season.

Carmarthen Quins – G.King; M.Davies, D.Simpson, E.Jones (captain), A.Jones (A.Rees); S.Daniel, L.Marsh (R.Richards); N.Williams, D.George, M.O’Kelly (S.Lloyd); D.Day, E.Evans; C.Jones (G.Williams), A.Mason (G.Rees), S.Phillips
Neath - N.Clapham; S.Thomas, A.Bevan (J.Spratt), W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; M.Jones (A.Thomas), P.Horgan (G.James); C.Griffiths (A.W.Davies), E.Shervington (A.Littlehales), C.Mitchell; S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan (B.Davies); A.Llewellyn, D.McShane, J.Davies
Referee : Mr.N.Whitehouse (Swansea)