Match Report

Neath 34 - Bedwas 13

The Gnoll, Sat 27th Oct 07 KO: 14:30

Neath 34 Bedwas 13
Another bonus point win for Neath, playing in a dazzling shade of pink!
Neath came out of the dressing room in their new away kit for the 2007/08 an all pink shirt, but the players ground out a hard fought victory that banished thoughts of the poor display against Ebbw Vale from the minds of the Neath faithful.
The opening 5 minutes was an exciting one with Bedwas side opened the scoring when Matthew Pizey danced over for a try in the corner, converted by Stuart Thomas.
On form scrum half Gareth James responded immediately when he broke from a Bedwas scrum to race from the half way line to the try line, Howard Thomas missed with the conversion. Neath 5 - Bedwas 7.
A good kick from outside half Arwel Thomas put Neath in pole position in their 22, a stolen lineout by Euros Evans gave Neath confidence but a penalty was given away and the boys in pink were back in opposition 22.
However a fiery Gareth James continued to lead his players, putting in some good tackles and became a nuisance to the Bedwas pack.
A charged up Neath side put together some good passage of play in the opening 20, with Arwel Thomas breaking through taken on by Martin Jones before a Bedwas were penalized for a high tackle on Bulldog, giving Neath a penalty kick in front of the post, Howard Thomas added the 3 points, putting Neath in front but only just 08-7.

As the weather worsened Bedwas kicked down field as the ball came out Jason Tovey, the Bedwas 10 slotted a drop goal over.
Neath 08 - Bedwas 10.
A kick from Arwel saw Neath back in their 22, Euros Evans was again a nuisance in the lineout, resulting in the ball coming back on the Neath side, a driving maul got the crowd roaring but Neath failed to cross.
James Merriman made a break on the far side towards the closing minutes of the first half and Gareth James was on hand to dance over for his second of the afternoon.The difficult conversion was taken by Howard Thomas.
Neatth continued to put pressure on the Bedwas side, played witth confidence and looks like the better side over the first 40minutes.
Half Time ended Neath 15 - Bedwas 10.
Neath opened the scoring of the second half with a try from Gareth King, Howard Thomas failed with the conversion - Neath 20 - Bedwas 10.

Neath continued to put pressure on the Bedwas defence with Andy Llewellyn crossing for his first try of the season, Howard slotted over the conversion making it 27-10 to the home side.

Some changes for Neath in the 56th minutes saw player coach Jason Forster take the field for his first home game but Neath gave away a penalty making it Neath 27-13.
Neath in the driving rain kept things tight but in the final minutes made a great break through wing Matthew Nuthall who fed to centre Kevin James who crossed for his 9th try of the season, Howard Thomas converted making the final score 34-13 to Neath