Neath V Pontypool
Saturday 22nd October 2005, 2.30pm Kick-Off.

MATCH REPORT (Al Black)

NEATH  31  PONTYPOOL  5

Fielding eight Under-21’s in their starting line-up, the Welsh All Blacks went back to the top of the Welsh Premiership courtesy of this four-try success over Pontypool.

This display was not up to the standards Neath have set lately in overcoming the likes of Cardiff, Cross Keys, Newport and Ebbw Vale but there could be no doubting the Blacks’ superiority over a Pontypool side that kept battling to the end and was probably satisfied with its “damage-limitation” effort.

All the early pressure came from Neath but against the run of play outside-half James Hook had a defensive kick charged down and Pooler centre Adam Sliczny crossed for a try. Neath’s response was instantaneous as No.8 Ben Davies won tail lineout ball and popped up on the end of a fast-driven maul to score, Hook converting. Despite a high error count, the Blacks were in control with young prop Craig Mitchell making an impression, skipper Steve Martin doing well at the linesout and Dan McShane grafting hard alongside him. It came as no surprise when the Blacks went further ahead as centre Siua Taumalolo slipped a super pass to wing Aled Bevan who crossed for Neath’s second try.

James Hook’s splendid touchline conversion was greeted by a huge cheer from the legions of youngsters in the Family Stand and the excellent home gate had more to applaud before the interval when Hook landed a long-range penalty to make it 17-5.

Neath continued to dominate the second-half and Pontypool rarely came out of their own territory. But Neath continued to squander chances and suffered far too many turnovers. Rowland Phillips replaced half the pack in an effort to improve things but it took Neath almost half an hour to add to their score. It was set up by centre Jonathan Spratt, probably Neath’s most error-free player who won the coveted “man of the match” award from Ospreys’ coach Shaun Holley. With the ultra-consistent Wayne Mitchell soon to return too, Neath will have one of the best and most reliable midfields around. Spratt’s determined midfield run scattered the away defence and scrum-half Martin Roberts was on hand to nip over at the posts for Hook to convert.

Neath kept up the pressure and from a lineout near the Pooler line prop Cai Griffiths rumbled over for Neath’s fourth try, Hook again converting splendidly to reach 103 points for the season. That capped a display that was far from Neath’s best of the season as the word “clinical” was lacking from their vocabulary on the day. Nevertheless, they were firmly in command and should have doubled their try-count. But, as one supporter put it, “To be out of sorts, win comfortably with four tries and go top of the League will do us for now.”

Neath – G.Morris; A.Brew, S.Taumalolo (N.Clapham), J.Spratt, A.Bevan; J.Hook, M.Roberts; C.Griffiths, E.Shervington (G.Price), C.Mitchell (P.Jones); S.Martin (captain), D.McShane (M.Morgan); T.Smith, B.Davies, S.Pengelly (J.Davies)  Other Replacements – A.Thomas, P.Horgan
Pontypool – D.Smith; L.Woodard (capt), A.Sliczny, D.Robinson, G.Ferguson; R.Watts, O.Jones; G.Liddon (N.Giles), R.Wilkes (L.Needs), N.Blake; C.Blunsden (C.Powell), M.Amos; L.Burns, D.Cox (R.Nash), G.Donalson
Referee – Mr. Gary Davies (Penygraig)

Neath youngster Jonathan Spratt receives his Man of the Match award from Ospreys assistant coach Sean Holley, for his all round display against Pontypool.  Photograph by Georgina Rewbridge.