MATCH REPORT

"Konica-Minolta" WELSH CUP FINAL
CAERPHILLY 13 points NEATH 36 points (by Phil Space)

The WELSH CUP is back HOME at NEATH ! And who cares about ungracious "Scrum V" with its woeful under-coverage, or about the doom and gloom of the "Western Mail" ? What did those two region-fawning organs do to promote the Cup Final anyway?

It seems that the capital-based media are belittling Neath's Cup success but the question being asked at The Gnoll is : would they do the same had Cardiff, Llanelli or even Swansea have won the Cup ?

Of course the 8,000 crowd was low but the WRU would easily have been looking at 20,000+ given a normal 2.30pm kick off instead of the ludicrous fan-unfriendly 5.30pm that S4C dreamed up. Others were put off by the high admission charges but this was beyond the clubs' control. These criticisms were conveyed to the WRU in the build-up and the Union should try listening to its clubs now and again as they obviously have a better grasp of such things.

Still these factors did not deter the loyal Neath majority in the stands and they had every reason to celebrate as Paul Jones and his men brought back the Cup to a wonderful reception at the packed Neath club at around 10.00pm on Saturday.

And what a day it was for everyone involved. The Blacks played some fine rugby although the Millennium Stadium pitch was in such a poor state that a Neath fan questioned whether Brian the Bull been grazing and stampeding there since the semi-finals.

From one of the youngest players Matthew Jones (whose vintage outside-half display earned him the Lloyd Lewis man-of-the-match award) to two of the oldest - Brett Sinkinson and the immense Mark Jones who were playing probably their last big-time game - every man played his full part.

Jones the Eldest was in the thick of things throughout. He clashed heads accidentally with Caerphilly prop Geraint Liddon in an incident that upset the TV pundits but this came after being on the receiving end of a knock himself and nothing was said either about the successive late challenges on Matthew Jones.

Neath won and did so handsomely because they had too much all round expertise for Caerphilly who, bravely as they battled, were not really in it. Even in the first-half, Neath made all the running although the scoreboard did not show it. That the Cheesemen trailed only 6-12 at halftime owed more to a stream of penalties awarded their way than it did to actual chance-making and the Blacks gave them an object lesson in the art of creative, skilful rugby.

Rapid transference of turnover ball won by Sinkinson and Pat Horgan led to Neath's first try by Kevin James (a try-scorer in Neath's last Cup final appearance against Newport) and a forward rumble saw Andrew Howell, the top try-scoring prop in Welsh Premier rugby, get another that Matthew Jones converted.

Caerphilly's response of two penalties by outside-half Stuart Thomas gave their coach Roger Bidgood undue cause for optimism at halftime - it was unfounded as the Blacks' first half control turned into second-half command.

James bagged a second on the receiving end of a long Matthew Jones miss before the try of the half was scored by silky-running centre Mike Jones although a late tackle on Matthew Jones in the build up went unseen and unpunished. Then Matthew Jones dabbed down after a charge down by replacement hooker Darren Poland and the outside-half added all three second-half conversions to his earlier penalty on his way to 16 points.

Since dancing past Byron Hayward to score at Ebbw Vale in February, young Matthew's confidence has grown and he has truly blossomed - the Lloyd Lewis award will not be the last honour he wins ! His class shone through in a fine All Black team effort where the industry of Lyndon Bateman, Hywel Jenkins and John McPhail did not go unnoticed and young Owen Gustafson was an effective post-interval replacement scrum-half.

Wayne Mitchell was as solid as ever at centre, the mazy running and pace of Richard Johnston and Gareth Morris seemed to terrify Caerphilly every time they got possession and both came close to adding tries, being halted only by last-ditch tackles.

Caerphilly's late try by No.8 Andrew Williams, converted by Thomas, was consolation at most and Neath's day would have been complete had Paul Jones not dropped the ball just short of the line from a lineout move. Neath were pressing at the end and might have scored more but when Nigel Whitehouse sounded the final whistle there was no doubt that the Cup was rightly Neath's.

Paul Jones was a very proud captain as he stepped up to receive the Cup for Neath's fourth time of winning and the response of the Neath fans in the stands was magnificent. Following in the footsteps of Martyn Davies and Kevin Phillips in lifting the Cup meant so much to the popular Neath captain that he would not be parted from the trophy, guarding it almost religiously through innumerable photos with the fans.

Coach Rowland Phillips bore a quiet pride afterwards. He paid tribute to ambitious chairman Geraint Hawkes and above all to the squad where the experienced men in the side have blended superbly with the youngsters (seven players still under 21 made the field).

It really was a team effort - one of which the whole community can be proud and rejoice. Under Phillips' guidance, this Neath side has developed nicely and will continue to do so next year - the best is yet to come !

Neath - Gareth Morris; Kevin James, Mike Jones, Wayne Mitchell, Richard Johnston; Matthew Jones, Pat Horgan; Paul Jones (captain), Andrew Littlehales, Andrew Howell; Mark Jones, Lyndon Bateman; Brett Sinkinson, Hywel Jenkins, John McPhail Replacements - John Leyshon, Chris Anderson, Owen Gustafson, Cai Griffiths, Darren Poland, Ben Davies, Andrew Llewellyn