Match Report

Blackwood Stars 7 - Neath 83

Blackwood, Sat 15th Dec 07 KO: 14:30

BLACKWOOD STARS v NEATH (CUP)
RECORD-BREAKER JAMES STARS IN GWENT ROUT

Neath will not be getting too carried away with this landslide victory over sixth division Blackwood Stars.This cup clash in Gwent represented the first outing for the Blacks since Jason Forster was removed from the coaching staff last month.
While Forster was expected to make a debut for new club Rotherham Titans against Pertemps Bees last Saturday,Neath looked towards a return to normality.

And after an unsure start against Stars, the first taste of life after Forster proved heady stuff.
Incredibly, the Blacks failed to score during the first quarter yet went on to score 83 points - including 13 tries - in the space of an hour.

It was a typical blood and thunder cup-tie for 20 minutes, but once Neath began to stretch the Districts Cup holders out wide there was only going to be one outcome.
And the biggest winner on the day was centre Kevin James, who crossed for six tries to set a new club record in the cup.

It bettered the five-try return wing Chris Higgs achieved at Cardigan in 1995/96.
Things changed in the batting of an eyelid, and during eight minutes of mayhem the scoreboard raced to 31-0.
Stars created more in the way of chances early on and they held territorial advantage during this period.

But once their resistance was broken by a 20th-minute try from Gareth King, there was no stopping Neath.
Tries from centre James, prop Ross Davies, centre Stephen Thomas and lock Steve Martin provided Neath fans with some warmth on a cold afternoon.

Full-back King rode tackles just before the break with his second try making it 38-0 at the changeover.
James required just 90 seconds to collect his next try, and it wasn't long before the hat-trick effort was saluted.

The lone response for the minnows came in the 52nd minute when fly-half Mark Birkby exploited a rare defensive error.
Two tries in the space of five minutes from James made it 66-7 on the hour with captain Lee Beach dabbing down on 68 minutes.

Replacement lock Martin Morgan sprinted 30 metres for the next try and matters were rounded off by James's record-breaker.
Fly-half Howard Thomas weighed in with nine conversions, as a second best cup win to the 86-3 success at Taffs Well two seasons ago sent the Blacks through to the last-32 stage.
Besides a block-busting display from James, other features were the strong running of both King and centre Thomas.

"Once we slipped into the groove the boys were effective," said Neath head coach Rowland Phillips.
"It was a pleasing result, topped off with some top-drawer rugby and it gives us a platform for the rest of the season."

Tony Poole