Llanharan V Neath
Tuesday 22nd February 2005, 7.23pm Kick Off (and it was !"£$%^ cold)

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

LLANHARAN 10 NEATH 25
A three try win at Llanharan strengthened Neath's grip on the Welsh Premiership as second-placed Llanelli missed out at home to battling Caerphilly and now it appears that Newport are once again the Blacks' strongest challengers.

It was absolutely vital that the All Blacks got back on target against relegation-threatened Llanharan and this was a game Neath never looked like losing.

Again Neath were obliged to permit in a player and prop Gavin Thomas (Bonymaen) did well at tight head into the second-half before being replaced by Alun Wyn Davies who also held his own at the scrums. Neath showed plenty of attacking intent in the first-half but, with Blues' Mama Molitika lending impetus to the Llanharan effort, the Blacks also had to defend for long periods and they did so efficiently. In fact, the All Blacks were altogether more effective than of late and they deservedly led 6-nil at halftime through two penalties from Neath fly-half James Hook.

Wales Under-19 scrum-half Martin Roberts had been prominent throughout and his sensible kicking kept the Neath pot boiling. His chip over the top produced Neath's first try early in the second-half when it was gathered by wing Aled Bevan who popped it to centre Wayne Mitchell who scored at the posts for Hook to convert.

The All Blacks soon went further ahead when the forwards, driving with a pace not seen for some time, hit holes in the Llanharan defence and the ball was spread left for Bevan to add the finishing touch. At 18-0, it was virtually over but Llanharan fought back bravely with a corner try from wing Richard Radford.

But Neath were playing with more confidence and good work by the threequarters set up Hook for his sixth league try of the season and he converted to make it 25-5, a lead Neath held until the dying minutes when Radford's second try made it 25-10.

It was a decidedly more lively performance than Neath have given of late with No.8 Ben Davies and James Davies adding pace to the forward effort where Chris Gittins was a dominant if under-used lineout forward. Most significant perhaps for Neath was the fact that several players performed to a higher standard than they have for some time and this is what the All Blacks need if they are indeed to be crowned champions.

Neath v Llanharan - Gareth Morris (captain); Nick Jones, Dave Tiueti, Wayne Mitchell, Aled Bevan (Richard Johnston); James Hook, Martin Roberts; Paul Jones, Andy Littlehales, Gavin Thomas (Alun Wyn Davies); Steve Martin (captain), Chris Gittins; Andy Llewellyn (Lee Beach), Ben Davies, James Davies Replacements - Neil Clapham, Mark Davies, Andrew Howell, John McPhail