Neath V Llandovery
Wednesday 29th September 2004, 7.15pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

NEATH 41 LLANDOVERY 6
Showing eight changes from the side that won at Bedwas, the Welsh All Blacks took their time but once they got going were too strong and had too much pace for lowly Llandovery at The Gnoll in a game of contrasting halves.

Reinforced by Scarlets Aisea Havili and Ian Boobyer, Llandovery contested strongly in a whistle-dominated first-half that lacked continuity. After outside-half James Hook had given Neath the lead with a penalty and No.8 Hywel Jenkins spilled the ball over the line, Llandovery actually led through two penalties by full back Gareth Morgan.

Neath blew another golden chance when wing Richard Carter flew into the line but his pass to centre Aled Bevan went astray before the dancing feet of full back Neil Clapham carried him over for the game's opening try. Hook converted and landed a second penalty via the woodwork on the stroke of halftime.

The Blacks started the second-half with a bang as impressive flanker Tom Smith did the donkey work for a flashing try by Bevan that Hook goaled. Llandovery were in deeper trouble when their wing Dafydd James was yellow-carded and Bevan scored his second try after a powerful break by co-centre Andrew Bishop. Hook converted to make it 27-6 and there was no way back for the Drovers.

The Blacks went further ahead when a line-out take from acting-captain Chris Gittins was fired by replacement scrum-half Mark Davies to ever-dangerous wing Aled Brew who somehow dashed up the narrow side and hooker Andrew Littlehales was in support to touch down, Hook converting.

After missing a couple more opportunities, Neath rounded it off when Clapham left the defence dead on his way to his fifth try in two games, Hook banging over his fifth conversion for an ultimately convincing win.

The Blacks remain third in the table but will go second on Saturday if they beat second-placed Carmarthen Quins at The Gnoll on Saturday, kick off 2.30 pm.

Neath :- Neil Clapham; Richard Carter, Aled Bevan, Andrew Bishop, Aled Brew; James Hook, Martin Roberts (Mark Davies); Andrew Howell, Mefin Davies (Andrew Littlehales), Cai Griffiths (Craig Mitchell); Ian Evans, Chris Gittins (captain); Tom Smith, Hywel Jenkins, John McPhail (James Davies) Replacements - Gareth Morris, Steve Martin, Lee Beach

Former Llandovery outside half and current Neath full back Neil Clapham
receives his man of the match award from former Neath Rugby and current Ospreys prop Paul James.