Neath V Glamorgan Wanderers
Saturday, 17th Spetember 2005, 2.30pm Kick-Off.

MATCH REPORT (Al Black)

NEATH 15 GLAMORGAN WANDERERS 10
Neath won - but that is about the only glimmer of satisfaction the Blacks could take from this display which was without question one of the poorest seen at The Gnoll for a long time.

Having lost at Pontypridd the previous week, champions Neath were expected to re-assert themselves against newly-promoted Glamorgan Wanderers … and therein perhaps lies the reason for a performance that never hit the heights.

Neath looked as if they expected to win, Wanderers were determined to stop them. Mistakes proliferated and there was little of the customary Neath drive and energy.

Playing towards the Town End, the Blacks took the lead after ten minutes when scrum-half Pat Horgan charged down a defensive kick by Wanderers full back Stuart Lawrence and scooted 30 metres to touch down in the right corner but sloppy defence by Neath let Wanderers level almost immediately through a try by wing Geoff Hobbs.

The Wanderers took great encouragement from the Blacks' fragility and their joy knew no bounds when full back Gareth Morris attempted to run from his own goal-line and lobbed out a poor pass that was seized upon by centre Jamie Jones who put the Wanderers in front at 10-5.

Neath continued to squander chances in their most imprecise performance but ten minutes into the second-half coach Rowland Phillips summoned reinforcements from the replacements' bench. Cai Griffiths, Gerwyn Price, Tom Smith and Simon Pengelley gave much needed impetus to the stuttering Neath side and straightaway hooker Price knocked back the visitors with a trademark burst and sent lock Martin Morgan dashing over for a try wide out on the right.

Even then Neath's inertia got the better of them and their complacency was illustrated when they neglected to kick a straightforward penalty that would have given them the lead. Too many players looked for others to do the work but, as the final whistle loomed, replacement flanker Simon Pengelly, on permit from Brecon, launched a move that ought to have produced a try on the right but instead required another phase before culminating in a try on the left by wing Aled Bevan.

So Neath won, 3 tries to 2 but it was an unsatisfactory display that would have brought defeat against a side with more attacking potential than Wanderers whose defensive commitment cannot be questioned after bravely frustrating all of last year's top three clubs.

A big improvement is called for and Neath must take their chances at the Arms Park if they are to overcome the struggling Capital side on Saturday.

Neath - G.Morris; N.Clapham, A.Bevan, J.Hook, R.Johnston (S.Thomas); A.Thomas, P.Horgan; P.Jones, A.Littlehales (G.Price), C.Mitchell (C.Griffiths); S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; B.Davies (T.Smith), D.McShane, J.Davies (S.Pengelley) Other Replacements - J.Spratt. M.Roberts