Pontypool V Neath
9th May 2006

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

PONTYPOOL 10 NEATH 34
Neath banished some of their Cup Final blues with a comfortable away win that consigned poor Pontypool to the First Division.

Having made eight changes from their Cup Final starting line-up, the Blacks looked eager to eradicate their disappointment. And they were soon on the score-sheet when full back Neil Clapham, excellent in defence and attack, shot away from his own 22 and outpaced Ebbw Vale-bound Sam Mills for the game’s first try.

Midway through the half, after a period of concerted pressure which might have yielded a couple more tries, Neath increased the lead when Gareth Morris breezed over for a corner try that outside-half Matthew Jones (exchanged with James hook for The Ospreys) converted. Pooler opened their account with a Sam Mills penalty but the Blacks immediately extended their lead to 19-3 when Jones’ cross-kick was gathered by winger Morris who touched down for his second try and Jones converted.

Despite almost constant pressure up to half-time, the Blacks could only add a Matthew Jones penalty on the stroke but already it seemed that enough had been done. Leading 22-3, the second-half was a patchy one for the Blacks who squandered further chances yet had to make a couple of timely defensive interventions themselves with flanker John McPhail an inspiration to all.

Similarly impressive was hooker Gerwyn Price who showed all the customary dash of a Neath forward on several occasions and he eventually shot over for Neath’s fourth try. Pooler bounced back with a classic interception try by one-time Neath scrum-half Owen Jones (who is on his way to Cross Keys) and the conversion by Mills made it 27-10. But Neath were not to be denied and the supreme skills and jinking run of Matthew Jones made up for his losing the ball over the line in the first half as he made it Neath's fifth try of the night and converted to finish the scoring.

Pooler attacked without success towards the end but, despite the inclusion of Dragons Sione Tuiluluto and Chris Anthony and a third international in Byron Hayward, they looked a dispirited outfit and Neath were rarely under pressure. Now to end the season with a bang against Bedwas !

PONTYPOOL – B.Hayward; M.Poole (G.Ferguson), S.Tuipuluto, S.Williams (C.Jones), A.Sliczny; S.Mills, O.Jones (D.Parry); N.Giles, L.Meades (J.Jeunne), N.Blake (C.Anthony); D.Rosser (D.Cox), M.Amos; L.Burns, G.Lucas (captain), G.Donaldson

NEATH – N.Clapham; S.Thomas, A.Bevan, J.Spratt (W.Mitchell), G.Morris; M.Jones, G.James; A.W.Davies (A.Howell), G.Price, C.Mitchell; S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; B.Davies, D.McShane, J.McPhail

Referee : Mr. D.Bodilly (Cardiff)