Llandovery 12 Neath 41
Saturday, 6th September

MATCH REPORT

Great to see the Ospreys gang of Mike Cuddy, Garin and Owen Jenkins at the match, supporting The Welsh All Blacks. Also spotted Llandovery old boy Barry Williams in the crowd. The new kit looks great and it seems as if the lycra has been destined to the dustbin to be replaced with a chunkier polyester!

Things started off pretty scrappily with neither team making much of an impression. The Drovers defence seemed quite solid. But it was they who struck first when winger Tracy Lewis went over after a superb run down the left flank. The try was converted by outside half Gareth Jones.A few minutes later Llandovery centre Barry Thomas was replaced by Rhodri Thomas after some rough manhandling from the Neath forwards.

The Welsh All Blacks soon stepped up a gear though and as Patrick Horgan chipped through towards the Drovers line to score, he was tripped and Matthew Jones took full advantage of the offence to make it Llandovery 7 Neath 3. Rhodri Thomas was soon replaced by a returning Barry Thomas with his head bandaged as a result with his tussle with Andy Llewelyn.

Jones converted a further penalty and the team hammered the Drovers' defence but they held firm. Throughout the first half Neath winger Richard Carter had a monumental tussle with Tracy Lewis in which unfortunately, the Llandovery wing seemed to win. However, after some scrappy play, the former Pontypridd wing Richard Johnston crossed over for a try but Matthew Jones unfortunately missed the conversion attempt.

Neath needed to put their stamp on the game but a series of handling errors let them down. A Llandovery try by winger Ifan Evans was disallowed much to the home fans' disgust which was not helped by their side soon failing to take advantage of an easy penalty. The period ended with the home team trailing by 7 points to 11. All in all, it was a pretty uneventful first half.

The second half started better and further Neath pressure resulted in a penalty which was duly converted by Matthew Jones. His boot was in demand soon after as a further penalty was struck by the young Ospreys development player to make it 17 points to 7.

The sight of Rowland Phillips warming up on the touchline must have put the fear of God into The Men In Black because they soon stepped up a gear. Richard Johnston crossed for his second try after a blistering run down the left wing which followed a patient phase of attacking play by his team mates. The try was converted by Jones which brought their tally of points to 24.

Mathew Monaghan and Ifan Evans for the home team were taken off and replaced by Adrian Williams and Rhodri Thomas but even these fresh legs could do little to stop the Neath onslaught. A great run by Richard Johnston almost led to a further Neath try but Paul Bamsey's handling let him down only inches from the tryline.

However, Johnston soon went over again for his third try after a mix up in the Llandovery defence and it was converted by Matthew Jones making the score 31 points to 7 in favour of the visitors. Rowland Phillips decided that it was about time to ring the changes. Adam Jones took to the field and Patrick Horgan, who had quite a quiet match by his standards, departed to be replaced by another Ospreys development player in scrum half Ricky Richards. The Drovers soon scored a consolation try though by centre Gary B. Morgan which went unconverted, taking their points tally to 12.

Neath replacement Adam Jones was fortunate not to have been booked some minutes later after a fracas with a Llandovery player and the Church Bank crowd showed their disapproval in no certain terms. Soon after number 6 Andy Llewelyn was replaced by the boss himself...Rowland Phillips.

Further Neath pressure resulted in a penalty that unfortunately Matthew Jones failed to convert. Rowland's influence on the pitch stirred the players to make an even greater effort and centre Mike Jones literally galloped through the Drover's defence for a superb individual try which went unconverted.

Centre Wayne Mitchell was then replaced by John Leyshon. Ricky Richards went over for Neath's fifth try which was left unconverted by Jones. Neath rung further changes at the death with Andy Howells being replaced by Darren Poland and Chris Anderson coming on for Matthew Jones. However, the game was in the bag and Neath ran out worthy winners by 12 points to 41.

Neath Tries: Richard Johnston (3), Ricky Richards, Mike Jones

Referee: Barrie Gregory (Llandough)

Man of the Match:
Richard Johnston

Match Report © "Mourner"