Match Report

Aberavon 29 - Neath 22

TAG, Mon 24th Mar 08 KO: 14:30

Aberavon 29 - Neath 22

A 15-year wait for a league victory over Neath ended yesterday as Aberavon hatched an Easter surprise in deservedly taking the spoils against their old rivals.The last time the Wizards lowered the colours of the Blacks was all the way back in February 1993 when the likes of centre John Jardine and fly-half David Love were on the scoresheet.

This was also only their second league win over Neath in 18 league starts, and it left Aberavon in a sound position to finish second.

The Wizards, who were sharper in attack throughout, also earned a bonus point.

For once Neath, who are pursuing a unique fourth straight title, failed to scale the heights and had only a losing bonus point to reflect on.

It was their first defeat in 16 outings since senior coach Jason Forster departed The Gnoll in mid-November.

Three seasons ago Aberavon eliminated Neath from the cup and they once more leaned on that combative spirit.

Neath faced an uphill struggle after being ripped apart three times inside 18 minutes by Aberavon's free-flowing back division in which centre Liam Gadd was commander-in-chief.

The Wizards were given first use of a strong wind and proceedings got off to a dramatic start.

Neath failed to hold centre Paul Bamsey, who released wing Richard Carter for a touchdown clocked at 40 seconds.

Fly-half Jamie Davies, who passed 3,000 league points last time out, added the extras, while opposite number Arwel Thomas missed a 30-metre penalty.

Aberavon continued to utilise the strong wind and increased their lead after a quarter of an hour following a thrust from flanker Chris Davies.

Only a fine cover tackle from Euros Evans kept him out, but the ball was worked right for full-back James Garland to claim an unconverted try.

Better followed for the Wizards in the 18th minute when a surge among the forwards led to scrum-half Chris Morgans just hitting the try-line.

Fly-half Davies converted, but they then had hooker Chris Wells binned on 26 minutes.

The Blacks used the ensuing penalty to drive Aberavon back at a rolling maul that the Wizards were deemed to have taken down.

Referee Phil Fear awarded a penalty try that Arwel Thomas improved on to reduce arrears to 19-7.

Neath lost centre Dafydd Lockyer in the 37th minute, Wayne Mitchell coming off the bench, and a minute later Aberavon fly-half Davies kicked a simple penalty.

That made it 22-7 at the break, but the burning issue was whether the lead was sufficient given the strong wind.

The Neath revival was sparked in the 42nd minute when No. 8 Andrew Llewellyn touched down from close range.

The Blacks again chipped away at the lead in the 52nd minute when Thomas knocked over a straight-forward penalty.

That narrowed the leeway to 22-15, and in the 63rd minute Aberavon fly-half Davies struck a post with a close-range penalty attempt.

But the Wizards secured the pivotal score in the 68th minute when flanker Darryl Thomas dabbed down from close range, and Davies landed a superb conversion.

The Blacks responded in the 77th minute with a try from wing Matthew Nuthall, goaled by replacement fly-half Howard Thomas, but Aberavon clung on to record a famous victory.