Neath V Newbridge
Wednesday 9th February 2005, 7.15pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

NEATH 78 NEWBRIDGE 0

NEATH got back to winning ways in emphatic fashion when they romped home with 11 tries against bottom club Newbridge. And, with Llanelli losing for a third consecutive game at home to Carmarthen Quins, the Blacks now head the Welsh Premier Division by 3 points and 30 tries with 3 games in hand.

While the Welsh All Blacks got back to winning ways - having lost their last two league matches - it looks almost certain as if the Gwent side face an uphill fight to avoid the First Division next year.

This was more like what is expected of Neath but, in a persistent driving drizzle, the perfectionists in the crowd would have been alarmed at the squandering of several try-scoring opportunities and a too-high-for-comfort error ratio that served to keep the score below three figures.

After losing a scrum against the head under their own posts, the Blacks burst into action running out of defence to set up a fine try by lock Chris Gittins. James Hook missed that conversion but went on to goal every one of Neath's next 10 tries and he soon added a penalty after Newbridge, not for the first time, were caught offside.

Hooker Ed Shervington received wide out to race 30 metres for a try before Hook sliced through at the posts for their third try and Neath were 22-nil up in 20 minutes. However, errors crept in and Neath inefficicency cost them three more tries before halftime which was reached at 29-nil when Richard Johnston skated over having earlier been denied a score for crossing in a two-horse race.

On the resumption, Neath soon reached the half-century as Newbridge had centre Gavin Ferguson yellow-carded for killing the ball and the Blacks blazed over for three quick tries from No.8 Hywel Jenkins, lock and acting-captain Steve Martin and full back Neil Clapham whose customary score was his 18th of the campaign.

Johnston split the defence for his second try of the night before replacement Ben Davies dropped another scoring pass and then winger Nick Jones cantered over. The win was sealed by prop Leighton Gerrard, playing for the first time in six years on permit from Bonymaen, who received a scoring pass from replacement Paul Jones to score wide out. He received a great reception from The Gnoll crowd which was bettered moments later when Gerrard plundered over at the posts for his second score. The immaculate Hook's 10th conversion out of 11 took him to 28 points as referee Tim Hayes (Carmarthen) blew up early without playing any injury-time.

So the Blacks are back on track - although Aberavon in the Cup will be a totally different ball-game - and Newbridge, beaten for an eighth consecutive time in the league, are seemingly doomed.

Neath v Newbridge - Neil Clapham (Mike Jones); Nick Jones, Dave Tiueti, Wayne Mitchell, Richard Johnston; James Hook, Pat Horgan (Mark Davies); Alun Wyn Davies, Ed Shervington (Andy Littlehales), Leighton Gerrard (Paul Jones); Steve Martin (captain), Chris Gittins (Ben Davies); Andy Llewellyn, Hywel Jenkins, Lee Beach (John McPhail) Replacement - Gareth Morris

Richard Johnston receives the man of the match award from Neath-Swansea Ospreys assistant coach Sean Holley for his performance against Newbridge which included a brace of tries (Picture by Georgina Rewbridge)

MATCH PREVIEW

NEATH V NEWBRIDGE - THE GNOLL - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH - KICK OFF 7.15pm

Neath's first home League game of 2005 kicks off at The Gnoll on Wednesday, February 9th at 7.15pm with Newbridge providing the opposition.

Earlier in the season, the Blacks won 29-16 at Newbridge who have struggled for much of 2004/05. They can, however, boast four wins to date against Llanharan twice, Caerphilly at home and - let this be a warning - at Pontypridd.

When they were recently eliminated from the Welsh Cup by Banwen, Club president Arthur Hughes, an outstanding back row forward in the 1960's when he earned his Welsh trial, reckons they have hit "rock bottom" and, despite Neath's sorry defeats at Carmarthen and Llandovery, the Blacks will start as firm favourites.

But Newbridge, led this season by second row Mike Peard, can always muster a big, powerful pack and they have the accurate goalkicking of ex-Oakdale star Jonathan Williams or Ross Watts to back it up.

They recently parted company with coaches Jonathan Westwood and Mike Watkins who have been succeeded by Steve Cross and Dragons hooker Paul Young and Neath rarely find the 'Bridge easy opponents !

The Blacks will still be without their Wales Under-21 and Under-19's representatives and the absence of Aled Brew, Andrew Bishop, Martin Roberts, Cai Griffiths, Craig Mitchell, Ian Evans and Tom Smith will considerably reduce the options available to coach Rowland Phillips.

Neath hope to have Ospreys Dave Tiueti and Shaun Connor available to help out their old team and prop Leighton Gerrard (permitted from Bonymaen) will reinforce the front row.

The match will be refereed by Tim Hayes (Carmarthen) who had charge of Neath's win at Cardiff in December and his touch-judges will be James Jones (Bridgend) and David Swain (Cardiff).

With the weather set fair and the "feel good" factor from Saturday's international win still in the air, a good crowd is expected - kick off 7.15pm.