Ebbw Vale V Neath
Saturday 15th October 2005, 2.30pm Kick-Off.

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

(Photographs by Julian Brock)

EBBW VALE 29 NEATH 47
"Happy with the 47, not so happy with the 29" - that was the ever-realistic conclusion of Neath coach Rowland Phillips after an entertaining sixth win of the season at Ebbw Vale, a result that lifted the Welsh All Blacks into second place in the Premiership.

The Blacks handed an emotional Eugene Cross Park return to centre Siua ("Josh") Taumalolo and a back-row place to Brecon recruit Simon Pengelly and they were soon into their stride, garnering a 15-point lead in even time.

A penalty by centre James Hook launched the Blacks on their way before hooker Gerwyn Price stole the ball at a maul and raced over for the first try. Great combined work off a tap penalty by the back-row of McShane, Smith and Pengelly led to the Blacks' second try scored by full back Gareth Morris and Hook added the conversion points from the touchline.

If Vale were shocked by Neath's opening, their stupor did not last long for, on the back of eight successive penalty awards, they came back to within a point with three penalties by Jason Williams and a try by flanker Michael Scudamore.

But Neath hit back with a second Hook penalty to make it 18-14 at the interval and the crowd were kept fully-entertained during the break too by ex-Ebbw Vale secretary Ivor George's reminiscences on the public address system - look out Kev Kendall !

Playing down the slope, Vale hit Neath with an early score, skipper Kristian Owen profiting from a Williams kick into undefended territory but the Blacks nudged back in front with a debut try for Taumalolo.

Williams and Hook traded penalties to make it 26-22 in Neath's favour before role-reversal came into play as a delicately placed kick by hooker Price was capitalised upon by Arwel Thomas with two tackles and Hook dribbled the loose ball to the try-line and re-gathered to score Neath's fourth try that he converted himself.

Slack Neath defence allowed wing Simon Hunt to reply almost immediately with a try that Williams converted for never-say-die Vale but Neath, growing in confidence, brought on Jonathan Spratt at centre with Hook moving to outside-half.

Spratt made an immediate impression and built on his solid performance at Newport a week earlier. First, he took advantage of a sharp break by scrum-half Martin Roberts to score try number five and then in injury time he cleverly opened up the defence for wing Aled Brew to score at the posts, Hook converting both to complete a personal tally of 22 points.

Next up, it's old favourites Pontypool at The Gnoll and, if the Blacks can continue to build upon this performance to clinch win number seven and Newport can beat Bridgend, the champions will be top of the table come Saturday night.

Neath v Ebbw Vale - G.Morris; A.Brew, S.Taumalolo, J.Hook, R.Johnston; A.Thomas (J.Hook), M.Roberts; P.Jones (C.Mitchell), G.Price (A.Littlehales), C.Griffiths; S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; T.Smith (B.Davies), D.McShane, S.Pengelly (J.Davies) Other Replacements - A.Bevan, P.Horgan