Neath V Pontypridd
Saturday 7th January 2006, 2.30pm KO

MATCH REPORT (Al Black)

(Photographs by Club Photographer, Julian Brock - Click Here)

(Additional photographs by Mike Greenslade - Click Here)

(Additional photographs by Jeff Thomas - Click Here)

NEATH 22 PONTYPRIDD 10
The Welsh All Blacks avenged their only defeat of the season thus far with a deserved, if closely-fought, victory over second-placed Pontypridd. There may only have been two tries in it but what a wonderful game of rugby it was and it thrilled both sets of passionate fans with its pace and intensity.

Outside-half James Hook was the Neath hero as he supplied all of the home side’s points to move him on to 246 for the season. But it was a sound all-round team performance by the All Blacks whose commitment to the tackle was relentless – and needed to be against a Pontypridd side that was always alert to counter-attack.

Neath set the early standards with the forwards responding to fit-again 20 year-old acting captain Tom Smith’s lead, driving powerfully in front of astute halves kicking for position. When Pontypridd had the ball, they found Neath’s first-up tackling eager for the hit with the returning Wayne Mitchell and teenage wing Jonathan Spratt matching the forwards’ determination.

The Neath pack was a lively unit throughout with the promising front row of Cai Griffiths, Ed Shervington and Craig Mitchell heading a strong scrum, makeshift lock Dan McShane joining the consistent Martin Morgan in the second-row and Simon Pengelly highly active alongside his captain.

The powerful All Blacks established a 9-point lead within fifteen minutes as James Hook showed his mettle, firing over three penalties, the third from just inside his own half. Much of the play took place between the two 22’s and Hook delivered his fourth successful penalty of the half before flanker Andy Llewellyn was rather harshly sin-binned given the frequency of Pontypridd’s transgressions until then in a breathless first-half.

Neath started the second-half by running a penalty from their own half when a positional kick seemed the more sensible option with only 14 men and Pontypridd looking sharp with ball in hand. It nearly led to a try but Ponty sneaked the ball away and wing Darren Berry ran the ball out of defence, found hooker Ben Phillips up with him before flanker Rhys Shellard went over for the game’s first try – a counter-attacking effort of French-like execution - that Paul Matthews converted.

A Matthews penalty brought Ponty up to 12-10 and the away fans were singing before Hook landed his fifth successful effort. Neath lost scrum-half Horgan but replacement Martin Roberts and Hook, with the stakes high, continued to nurse their forwards and played for territory. Pontypridd still looked dangerous but after a great rush by the Neath forwards with Llewellyn to the fore, Roberts and Hook combined for Neath’s try that the outside-half goaled from in front of the posts.

There was no coming back from there for Ponty whose dying attacks were turned over repeatedly by Neath although referee Mr. Huw David sin-binned replacement John McPhail late on. Neath’s steel kept their line intact to ensure their third victory in three weeks against their nearest title rivals.

It was stirring stuff throughout in a real top-of-the-table affair between two sharp sides whose speed and endeavour was the best seen this season. Nearly 3,500 vocal supporters went home happy after a grand contest that was the Principality Premiership at its best. Members of the Welsh team management were present on a rare visit to a Premier match and confessed that the standard of play, the crowd and intensity of the occasion was something of a shock to them.

It was a pity that Gwyn Jones and “Scrum V” could not be bothered to attend Wales’ biggest club game as they would have seen a rousing afternoon’s rugby between two emerging teams, half of whom are 22 and younger, thus giving the lie to his statement the previous week that “We need more youngsters in the Premiership” ! Mmmm youngsters, pace, passion, fans - isn’t that what “Scrum V” is lacking ?

Neath – G.Morris; J.Spratt, A.Bevan, W.Mitchell, R.Johnston; J.Hook, P.Horgan (M.Roberts); C.Griffiths, E.Shervington (G.Price), C.Mitchell (P.Jones); D.McShane (H.Jenkins), M.Morgan; A.Llewellyn, T.Smith (captain), S.Pengelly (J.McPhail) Other replacements – A.Thomas, J.Davies
Pontypridd – M.Stoddart; D.Berry, T.Riley, D.Lockyer, M.Nuttall; P.Matthews, G.Jones; G.Cox, B.Phillips, R.Harford (I.Poley); C.Martenko (C.Dicomidis), G.Harrington; L.Evans (A.Powell), N.Strong (captain), R.Shellard
Referee : Mr. Huw David (Bridgend)

Man of the Match Award: Tom Smith (presented by Osprey and Wales Second Row, Brett Cockbain.)