Neath V WRU President's XV
Sunday 12th March 2006, 2.30pm Kick-Off
MATCH REPORT (by Al Black)
(Photographs by Mike Greenslade - Click Here)
NEATH 33 WRU PRESIDENT’S XV 7
On a bitterly cold afternoon, Neath used second-half wind advantage to record their 25th win in 26 outings this season. The match marked the125th anniversary of the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union at the Castle Hotel in Neath on March 12, 1881, and the occasion was duly celebrated as the home team maintained their ground record with a 5-1 try-count.
The first half was evenly contested with the President’s XV, buoyed by the strong wind, showing surprising cohesion but Neath looked dangerous in attack and showed commendable defensive fortitude too. Near the half-hour mark, Neath took the lead when the forwards drove powerfully with prop Andrew Howell and lock Steve Martin to the fore and scrum-half Gareth James touched down. Ospreys fly-half Matthew Jones, making his first Neath appearance of the season, converted, and the forwards nearly repeated the dose before the President’s team levelled when Neath outside-half Arwel Thomas foxed his team-mates with a neat chip through for Bedwas centre Phil Dolman to score and convert making it 7-7 at half-time.
Five minutes into the second half, good combined play set up a huge overlap try with impressive No.8 Hywel Jenkins receiving to score but the President’s XV continued to compete with referee Tim Hayes allowing them considerable latitude but seeming more eager to pull up Neath. Arwel Thomas switched to the Neath side as replacement and just missed a try but Neath took advantage of the position to register a pushover try from replacement No. 8 Dan McShane that Arwel Thomas converted.
Neath were now in command and a huge cheer greeted the fourth try by popular prop Howell who raced 20 metres for his fourth of the season. Thomas converted to pass his century of points for the season and on the final whistle they saved their best for last as replacement flanker Simon Pengelly sped over for their fifth try, Thomas again converting.
All of the President’s Men did well and man-of-the-match judge Allan Bateman offered the award to fellow Maesteg man Ian Boobyer who reminded Gnoll watchers of his supreme disruptive qualities while ex-Neath legend Mark Jones was a sprightly late replacement for Neil Watkins who won Welsh honours from The Gnoll in 1995/96.
Neath – G.Morris (A.Thomas); S.Thomas, A.Bevan, J.Spratt, R.Johnston; M.Jones (G.Roberts), G.James (P.Horgan); A.W.Davies, A.Littlehales (G.Price), A.Howell (P.Jones); S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; B.Davies (S.Pengelly), H.Jenkins (D.McShane), J.Davies
WRU President’s XV – G.King (CQ); N.Jones (Sw), P.Dolman (Bed), G.Evans (L) [S.Williams (Ppl )], I.Evans (Ldy); A.Thomas (N) [G.Knox (Ab)], R.Harris (M) [P.Williams (Br)]; J.Price (CK) [J.Hughes (Lli)], I.Dobbs (Br) [H.Davies (Ld)], A.Edwards (Ab); E.Evans (CQ), N.Watkins (Np) [M.Jones (Ab)]; P.Williams (Np) [D.Jones (LT)], N.Strong (Ppr), I.Boobyer (Mtg) captain
Referee – Mr. T.Hayes (Carmarthen)
|
