Pontypool V Neath
Saturday 9th April 2005

MATCH REPORT (by Phil Space)

PONTYPOOL 9 NEATH 33
Young outside-half James Hook gave a virtuoso performance and contributed 23 points as the Blacks edged closer to the Welsh Premier title at Pontypool Park where they were comfortable winners.

In his first season of senior rugby, young James hoisted his season's tally to 382 in all games and he is within striking distance of the club record 446 set by Lee Jarvis three years ago.

He is also the league's top scorer with 325 points but statistics are one thing - what they disguise is the fact that Hook is fast becoming an ace in Neath's pack.

Aside from banging over four penalties, Hook converted all three tries and on top of that he had a hand in each of Neath's three crossings of the whitewash.

The first was a solo effort, scored by Hook himself in the 12th minute as he dodged his way over for as good a try as they've seen at Pontypool Park for a long time. He converted himself and had been successful with two penalties before Sam Mills opened the home side's account with a penalty.

The Neath forwards were more assertive than they had been at Bridgend with Under-21's caps Ian Evans and Tom Smith setting the standard and receiving grand support from the returning Paul Jones and John McPhail.

When the Neath pack bagged a strike against the head, No 8 Lee Beach combined with the elusive Hook who sent Richard Johnston racing away on the outside for his 50th league try.

Hook and Mills then exchanged penalties to send the Blacks into the interval 23-6 up. Although Pooler had the wind in the second-half, Neath rarely had to defend in their 22 and the home side never looked like breaking the stranglehold imposed by the determined and mean Neath defence.

Pontypool managed a third penalty by Mills as the Blacks kept them at bay before Neath finished strongly with Hook's fourth penalty and the promising outside-half then supplied an inside pass to wing Aled Brew who touched down at the posts. Hook's formality of a third conversion sent the Blacks into a run of three successive Gnoll encounters against the Gwent sides Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale and Bedwas.

Neath v Cross Keys - G.Morris (captain) (N.Clapham); A.Brew, E.Seveali, W.Mitchell (A.Bevan), R.Johnston; J.Hook, Mark Davies; P.Jones (A.W.Davies), A.Littlehales (E.Shervington), C.Griffiths (A.Howell); I.Evans, C.Gittins; T.Smith, L.Beach (A.Llewellyn), J.McPhail