Match Report

Neath 27 - Wanderers 15

The Gnoll, Sat 22nd Sep 07 KO: 14:30

 Neath v Glamorgan Wanderers - Saturday 22nd September 2007

Two late tries seal a win for The Welsh All Blacks but Glamorgan Wanderers made the victory a lot harder for them than their previous home game against Bridgend.

Neath opened the scoring when Kevin James bounded over in the corner after just 10 minutes. Youngster Howard Thomas in his first league start for Neath added a further two points to the board.. The Wanderers responded minutes later after Stephen Thomas put in a high tackle, Aled James made no mistake on adding 3 points to the board.

07-03

Howard Thomas added three points to the board and centre Aled James added a penalty for the wanderers.
Luck didn't seem to go Neath's way in the second half, there was dropped balls, knock ons, lost lineout's and turnovers but their defence held firm and prevented the Wanderers from crossing in the first half.

A stern team talk was needed from Jason Forster to get the Neath team back on track with running rugby called for from the vocal crowd, concerned that there could be a repeat of the opening result of last season.

Half Time: 10-6

8 minutes into the second half Martin Jones and Glamorgan Wanderers captain Matthew Boulton were yellow carded. Neath continued to give away penalties and Aled James added to his tally. A spate of replacements were made on the Neath side in the hope that fresh blood would turn things their way. Indeed Jonathan Spratt made a fantastic break, fed to Matthew Nuthall who passed to winger Kevin James who crossed for his second of the afternoon. Howard Thomas's conversion hit the post.

15 - 12

A strange decision from the referee gave Glamorgan Wanderers a penalty in front of the posts, Aled James drew the scores level by slotting it over. Minutes later the referee penalizes Neath in the scrum and awarded the wanderers a penalty, some 62 minutes out, James was short with his attempt.

Neath determined to end the game on a high note made a break through flanker James Merriman but Kevin James stepped out. Minutes later a superb driving scrum led to Gareth Williams diving over for a try, Howard Thomas missed with the conversion but a slender lead of 5 points put the Blacks in front.

A late penalty kick for Glam put them in pole position in their 22 but the lineout was snatched by Neath hands. Neath had the last say of the game with a try from flanker Gerwyn Price converted by Arwel Thomas

Final Score - Neath 27 -15