Neath V Maesteg
29th April 2006

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

NEATH 66 MAESTEG 14
Neath coach Rowland Phillips warned that there would be no let-up for the Welsh All Blacks just because they had clinched back-to-back titles against Bridgend in midweek – and he was right as poor Maesteg felt the full force of the newly-crowned champions at The Gnoll.

Once again, Neath shuffled their resources as they faced up to the Old Parish for the third time in 17 days but, after a scrappy start, the Blacks were soon in the hunt for their third “treble” over fellow sides from the Ospreys region. Only six minutes in, powerhous prop Andrew Howell plunged over for a try that Arwel Thomas converted from the touchline and winger Richard Johnston – the only threequarter playing in his normal position – soon added a second that Thomas again improved upon. A penalty try soon followed after Arwel |Thomas was checked in poursuit of his own kick and the outside-half added a third conversion before Maesteg registered their first points when tackles were missed and full back Lloyd Warner got in at the posts for James Dixon, the hero of the Old Parish’s midweek destruction of Newport, converted. Before halftime, Neath’s advantage was restored though at 28-7 after a wonder-try emanating from their own line. The Premiership’s top try scorer Steve Thomas touched down at the other end of the field for Thomas to convert again.

The shirt-sleeved crowd had enjoyed some thrilling first half and there was better to come as Maesteg wilted in the heat. Steve Thomas, playing at centre, and Andrew Howell both crossed for their second tries of the afternoon before Maesteg hit back with a try by ex-Neath Under-21’s wing Gareth John that replacement Paul Smithson goaled to make it 38-14. Arwel Thomas then took a hand with Neath’s seventh try which he converted himself and he added the points too to Neath’s eighth try of the afternoon when hard-working lock Ben Davies sent Stephen Thomas speeding away for his hat-trick try. It took the ex-Rugby League man’s tally for the season to a magnificent 28 and – even more significantly though few were aware of it at the time – it was Neath’s 400th since the club game went semi-pro in 2004/05.

Neath were by no means finished though and Gareth James, playing on the wing instead of in his normal scrum-half position, made a mark on proceedings with two fine tries that Arwel Thomas converted for a match-haul of 21 points.

NEATH – G.Morris; G.James, S.Thomas, N.Clapham, R.Johnston; A.Thomas, P.Horgan; A.W.Davies (P.Jones), G.Price (E.Shervington), A.Howell; H.Jenkins, B.Davies; A.Llewellyn (S.Pengelly), D.McShane, J.Davies (J.McPhail)

MAESTEG – L.Warner; G.John, R.Boobyer (A.Bateman), A.Brown, N.Dixon; J.Dixon (P.Smithson), R.Morgan (L.O’Connor); G.Edwards (A.Healy), L.Williams, C.Hopkins (S.Tremlett); K.Baldwin, G.Ronan; M.Sainsbury, M.Wareham (captain), C.Beck (P.Standing)

Referee : Mr. J.Jones (Bridgend)