Match Report

Llanelli 10 - Neath 17

Stradey Park, Sat 8th Sep 07 KO: 14:30

Llanelli 10 Neath 17

Champions Neath displayed admirable patience in wearing Llanelli down during the closing stages of a frequently ill-tempered West Wales derby.A failure by referee Neil Ballard to make his intentions clear at breakdown situations led to players taking the law into their hands when rucking was the order of the day.

Neath lock Ockert Booyse paid the penalty in the 49th minute when he was yellow carded and with the score on 10-10, Llanelli should have made hay.

But crucially they failed to reach the Neath 22 during the absence of Booyse, and it was the champions who delivered the killer blow in the 74th minute.

Llanelli turned ball over on halfway in slipshod fashion, resulting in livewire flanker James Merriman making the initial cut.

An inside pass to centre Stephen Thomas caused further panic in the home defence, and a final transfer to wing Aled Bevan sent him under the posts.

Neath just about deserved victory in a game that won't be recalled with any great affection in years to come.

The Blacks did a professional job on the never-say-die Sospans, and their task would have been all the easier if four penalty chances hadn't been spurned.

However, Neath senior coach Jason Forster pointed to a job well done by his troops.

"This has to be marked down as an improvement on the opening day victory over Bridgend," he explained.

"Llanelli really came at us during the first-half but having done the right things, indiscipline then let us down.

"But the boys showed good character during the closing stages to pull off a very good win at a ground where not too many sides will win this year."

Having gained a sound victory at Aberavon the week before, at least Llanelli came out of the game with a losing bonus point.

that would not have been the case had Neath replacement fly-half Howard Thomas have landed an injury-time penalty.

"You tend to use Neath as a yardstick to measure performances, and with that in mind we played our part in what was a tough and physical encounter," said former Neath and Wales prop John Davies, now head coach with Llanelli RFC.

He added: "We gave away far too many penalties in the contact area during the first-half, and generally we couldn't keep the ball long enough to stretch Neath. But like Neath we have introduced a lot of new players this season, and the bonus point helped to maintain momentum going into successive home games with Maesteg and Bridgend."

Scrum-half Gareth Jones dabbed down with Arwel Thomas converting before Howard Thomas slotted over a penalty to give Neath a 10-0 lead.

A Rhys Priestland penalty cut Neath's interval advantage to 10-3, and it was level two minutes into the second period as No. 8 Dan Godfrey finished off good work from Dominic Day. Replacement fly-half Sam Mills converted, and besides the binning of Booyse there was little to write home about until the match-winning move in the 74th minute.

During the closing stages, Llanelli attempted to claw back the Bevan try, but Neath were too streetwise and successfully wound down the clock.

Centre Stephen Thomas, wing Kevin James along with back row men Lee Beachand Merriman - cut the mustard for Neath.

Llanelli were well served by locks Day and Adam Powell together with Godfrey.

Neath move on to Tennant Park tomorrow night to help Skewen celebrate their 125th anniversary with replacements for injured captain and No. 8 Beach the main concern.