Newport V Neath
Saturday 30th April 2005, 2.30pm KO

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

NEWPORT 31 NEATH 14
A game too far ! It would have been expecting a lot of Neath to go to Newport and win on Saturday.

The Gwent side, smarting from surrendering their championship title to the Blacks, were ready and waiting, determined to preserve an impressive 2-year ground record, and Neath were well below strength for probably their toughest assignment of the season.

Yet, early on, it seemed as if the Welsh All Blacks were capable of bringing Newport's 33-match home record to an end.

The back row of Andy Llewellyn, Aiono Senio, and No. 8 Lee Beachmade their presnce felt but Neath let themselves down in the finishing stakes and instead of going in at halftime leading they contrived to trail Newport 7-10.

The All Blacks took the lead with a second try in successive games by prop Cai Griffiths and wing Nick Jones, making a rare appearance took on the even more unusual role of goalkicker, to add the conversion points.

Crucially though in such a tight affair, he failed two penalties that could have changed the course of the game whereas Newport outside-half Daniel Griffiths got Newport away with a penalty before his speculative kick was missed by wing Jones and captain Gareth Morris and the West Walian touched down at the posts to convert and give Newport a lead they scarcely deserved.

In the second-half, outside-half Neil Clapham, deputising for James Hook, almost made an interception try but Newport took command.

Tries from centre Richard Payne, full-back Will Kershaw-Naylor and flanker Sam Waldron sent them ahead and, although Neath battled back with a try by free-scoring centre Aled Bevan that Jones converted, the Blacks had nothing left in the tank after the midweek championship-clincher against Bedwas.

Griffiths took his tally to 16 points and Newport deserved to win but, with the title in the bag, it was small consolation for the Rodney Paraders.

Neath v Newport - G.Morris (capt); N.Jones, A.Bevan (M.Jones), W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; N.Clapham, P.Horgan (Mark Davies); P.Jones, E.Shervington, C.Griffiths (A.Howell); S.Martin, C.Gittins (I.Evans); A.Llewellyn (B.Davies), L.Beach, A.Senio