Neath 30 Munster 22
31st August 2001

MATCH REPORT
© Alan Williams, Neath RFC

Neath started the game in a confident mood after the midweek win in Edinburgh. Three minutes into the game the All Blacks were awarded a penalty on their own 10-metre line. A hush went over the ground as Neath outside half Lee Jarvis pointed towards goal, then the crowd let out a huge roar as the ball sailed between the posts. This kick was all of 59 metres and is one of the longest kicks seen at the Gnoll in living memory. The kick served notice to the Munster team that any misdemeanours would be punished from almost anywhere on the ground.

Munster's British Lion Ronan O'Gara was on target with a penalty following the Neath forwards being caught offside. The Irishmen took the lead in the 10th minute when O'Gara was successful with his second attempt after a Neath player had failed to roll away after a tackle.

Neath quickly turned defence into attack after Allan Bateman had charged down John Kelly's attempted drop goal, Bateman fly hacked the ball to the visitors try line, where he and fellow centre James Storey forced Anthony Horgan to minor the ball. The Neath front row forced Irish International Peter Clohessy to concede a penalty from the resulting scrum, Jarvis made no mistake with his second penalty attempt. This score took Jarvis past fifty points for the season (the first player in the Celtic League to reach this milestone). A couple of minutes later Jarvis was again on target with a penalty.

With half an hour gone the All Blacks were awarded a penalty 30 metres out, the Munster defenders turned and trooped back towards the posts. The ever-alert Jarvis tapped the ball to himself and raced away to score a try in the corner, the outside half added the extra points for the conversion.

Centre Allan Bateman intercepted an inside pass by Peter Stringer, a quick pass from Jarvis to Duncan Jones who fed Skipper Gareth Llewellyn whose pass to Shaun Connor allowed the fullback to race through the gap and feed Dave Tiueti who passed inside to the supporting Lee Jarvis who crossed in the corner for his second try of the game.

The second half started with the former European Champions upping the pace. Outside half O'Gara reduced the arrears with a close range penalty. Shortly afterwards O'Gara was again on target with a penalty, which was awarded for a technical offence at a scrum. Neath were then penalised for holding on to the ball, O'Gara was again successful. The All Blacks were awarded a penalty when a Munster player failed to release the ball in the tackle; Lee Jarvis extended the All Blacks lead with a successful kick. A feat, he was to repeat just two minutes later.

The Irish were awarded a penalty thirty metres out, O'Gara kicked to touch, a rolling maul was formed from the lineout and veteran second row Mick Galway grounded to score Munster's only try, O'Gara was on target with the conversion.

The final score of the game came from a Lee Jarvis drop goal. This meant that lee Jarvis collected a full house.

This performance deservedly earned the Patron's Association Man of the Match award for the second home game in succession.

Patrons Association Man of the match
Neath: Lee Jarvis
Munster: Ronan O'Gara