Ulster V Neath
30th November 2001

MATCH REPORT
© Alan Williams, Programme Editor, Neath RFC

The Irishmen playing with a huge wind behind them took the lead in the sixth minute, when outside half David Humphrey’s was on target with a penalty from inside his own half. The fly half extended his teams lead with two further long-range penalties.

The All Blacks shocked the 9,000 strong Gaelic crowd with a try in the 21^st minute. Nathan Bonner-Evans drove from the back of Neath scrum in the Irish twenty-two, Fijian International back row forward Alfie Mocelutu continued the drive and fed scrum half Andy Moore, who forced his way over the try line, outside half Lee Jarvis was on target with the conversion.

Humphrey’s and Jarvis exchanged penalties, before Neath hooker Barry Williams broke away from the Neath twenty-two and fed wing Kevin James, James was tackled on the halfway line, Williams in the move for the second time fed Andy Moore, Moore quickly fed Lee Jarvis who set Tongan Torpedo Dave Tiueti free. Tiueti handed off David Humphreys and stepped inside fullback Paddy Wallace to score under the posts. Jarvis added the extra points for the conversion. Two minutes later the Irish outside half was on target with his fifth penalty.

In the final minute of the half, Ulster second row forward Mark Blair crossed in the corner to restore his team’s lead, Humphreys was on target with the conversion.

The second half began with Ulster playing at a hundred miles an hour. With ten minutes of the half gone, Jarvis was on target with a penalty to reduce his team’s arrears. A Jarvis drop goal midway through the half gave the All Blacks a justified lead. Storey and Tiueti combined to send Gareth Morris over in the corner, only for a touch judge to rule that Morris had touched the corner flag before grounding the ball.

Another penalty by Humphreys restored the home sides lead with just five minutes remaining. A perfect cross kick by Humphreys was caught and grounded by flanker Andy Ward, Humphreys was on target with the extra points for the conversion.

With just two minutes remaining a Jarvis penalty reduced the arrears, but Humphreys was on target with his 10^th successful kick of the night to finish the match with 28 points.