Neath V Pontypridd
Saturday May 6th 2006

MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)

NEATH 25 PONTYPRIDD 26
There is something about dropped goals and Neath in Welsh Cup Finals. In 1993, it was Emyr Lewis’ totally illegal effort that denied the Welsh All Blacks the trophy against Llanelli and now in 2006 along came Dai Flanagan with an effort that broke Neath hearts in the fifth minute of injury time to deprive the Welsh All Blacks of the double.

It was a poignant end to a thrilling Konica Minolta Cup Final as Flanagan’s last chance kick split the uprights to give Ponty a victory that they deserved on the day and one which few Neath fans would really begrudge them.

But it was so nearly a different story. After outside-halves James Hook and Flanagan had traded penalties, Ponty got out of the blocks faster and scored the first try when winger Matthew Nuttall rounded the shaken Gareth Morris. But Neath went in front at the break 13-11 as man-of-the-match flanker Andy Llewellyn crossed for the Blacks’ first try that Hook converted before adding a penalty.
It was a lead that Neath scarcely deserved but Ponty came back after the break and scored inside two minutes when, after stealing the ball from what looked like an offside position, scrum-half Gareth Jones sent Lockyer away down the left-hand touchline to score. They looked to have wrapped it up when they again turned over possession in midfield and prop Scott Roberts sent wing Chris Clayton over to open a ten-point lead.
This was the cue for Neath to at last awaken from their slumbers and, after prop Paul Jones crashed over, the Blacks nearly went ahead with Jones in full sway. Eventually, a telegraphed Flanagan pass was intercepted by opposite number Hook who ran in to score at the posts and convert to make it 25-23 to the Blacks.
Neath attacked again and then came a vital call from referee Nigel Owens who deemed that a Neath scrum had turned 90 degrees and switched the put-in to Ponty who needed no invitation to take the ball upfield. From a lineout, Ponty took the ball into midfield where Neath replacement flanker Ben Davies appeared to have stolen the ball only for referee Owens to deem it “too untidy” and crucially he awarded a scrum to Ponty. The ensuing scrum seemed to go every bit as “90” as had the Neath one at the other end but play continued and Flanagan the villain turned hero as he lifted a dropped goal between the uprights amidst high drama.

NEATH – G.Morris (N.Clapham); S.Thomas, A.Bevan (J.Spratt), W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; J.Hook, P.Horgan (M.Roberts); C.Griffiths, E.Shervington (G.Price), C.Mitchell (P.Jones); S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; A.Llewellyn (B.Davies), D.McShane (H.Jenkins), J.McPhail
PONTYPRIDD – M.Stoddart (J.Pocock); C.Clayton, T.Riley, D.Lockyer (P.Matthews), M.Nuttall; D.Flanagan, G.Jones; S.Williams (R.Hurford), B.Phillips (L.Davies), S.Roberts; C.Dicomidis, G.Harrington; L.Evans (A.Powell), N.Strong (captain), R.Shellard (W.O’Connor)
Referee – Mr. N.Owens (Pontyberem)