Neath V Llanharan
Wednesday, 3rd November 2004

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

NEATH 46 LLANHARAN 5
After an error-strewn first-half, leaders Neath eventually came good in the second-half and buried Premier newcomers Llanharan for their 11th straight League win.

The first-half was a desperately disappointing affair as Neath dominated territorially but managed only an 8-nil lead through a penalty by outside-half James Hook and a fine try by centre Andrew Bishop. Llanharan had their moments notably in two breaks by centre Nicky Morgan.

Both sides found it difficult to come to terms with the whistling of Mr. Bodilly whose refereeing grew more eccentric as the game wore on. But the second-half had more to commend it as the Blacks finished strongly against a tiring Llanharan side.

Bishop flashed across for his second try that Hook converted but Neath showed a lack of try-scoring ambition when the outside-half kicked his second penalty with the Dairymen's defence on their knees.

Neath were punished by Mr. Bodilly and Llanharan registered a neat try by ace points-scorer Mark Davies, the full back who contributed 473 points last season, but he was injured in the process.

With replacements Darren Poland and Andrew Llewellyn lending their normal direct approach, the Blacks then really got going and they were awarded a penalty try at a rapidly-retreating Llanharan scrum when visiting flanker Nikki Allen kicked the ball out. Hook converted before giving way to Shaun Connor, back for his first action since September, and Neath's 25-5 lead began to gather momentum.

Wing Richard Johnston pounced for a try when he zapped into midfield as the extra man, Wales' top try-scoring prop of 2003/04 Andrew Howell grabbed his second of this campaign and finally skipper Gareth Morris skated over for his sixth of the season.

Connor looked the class act he is and converted all three to leave Llanharan a little bewildered. Neath were nowhere near their best but they extended their try-tally to six on the evening (56 this season) to remain top of the Welsh Premier Division.

On an efficiency scale, Neath's effort probably marked no more than three out of ten but they were the vastly superior side and even when flanker Aiono Senio was temporarily sin-binned at the end of the first-half they were not really threatened.

Neath v Llanharan - Gareth Morris (captain); Aled Brew, Andrew Bishop, Wayne Mitchell, Richard Johnston; James Hook, Patrick Horgan; Paul Jones, Andy Littlehales, Andrew Howell; Steve Martin, Ian Evans; Tom Smith, Lee Beach, Aiono Senio Replacements - Shaun Connor, Martin Roberts, Craig Mitchell, Darren Poland, Chris Gittins, Andy Llewellyn, James Davies

* Wing Richard Carter has now completed his transfer to Aberavon, having scored three tries in as many permit appearances for them. "Competition for wing places at The Gnoll in pretty intense with Richard Johnston, Aled Brew and Gareth Morris proven performers. Richard goes with our best wishes and it would have been wrong for us to have held back a player of his ability at this stage of his career."