Match Report

Cross Keys 28 - Neath 44

Pandy Park , Fri 4th Apr 08 KO: 14:30

NEATH HIT BACK TO WIN A THRILLER

Neath went through a raft of emotions during a ding-dong Konica Minolta Cup quarter-final with Cross Keys before winning 44-28.

From looking likely winners when leading 22-5 just before half-time, their fortunes dipped when Keys rallied to take a surprise 23-22 lead on 55 minutes.

But the pendulum swung back Neath's way during the final quarter and they went on to take an epic encounter in emphatic fashion.

One thing is for sure, if the Blacks should go on and lift the cup for a fifth time then they have already done it the hard way.

In the last round they were 20-10 down with 10 minutes to go at Tonmawr, only to pull through on try count in a 20-20 draw.

And it looked as if Neath could again be exiting when Keys came on strong during the third quarter to upset their apple cart.

There were shades of 1977 when Keys took the only other Pandy Park cup encounter between the clubs, 14-9

But when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and that was highlighted by Ospreys centre Jonathan Spratt.

Time and again the Neath Athletic Youth product, who Neath have groomed for success, broke the hearts of the home faithful.

His ability to make line breaks when they mattered most lifted spirits in the Neath camp, while fellow centre Stephen Thomas and full-back Gareth King were admirable finishers.

Two Spratt-engineered tries for centre Thomas and captain Lee Beach in the space of 10 minutes proved match-winners.

It changed a 23-22 deficit into a 37-23 lead by the 75th minute and there was no way back for gritty Keys, who went on to concede a seasonal treble.

"Having built up a decent lead with the wind and slope, we lost our structure, only for our leaders to put up their hands," said Neath head coach Rowland Phillips.

"People outside our circle might have thought we were about to bow out, but the boys had the right answers and momentum returned at a vital stage.

"We knew how difficult it was going to be, having only just taken the league clash at the ground last month, and Keys once more played well at times.

"But lessons were learned at Tonmawr in the last round, and in the end our victory was built around focus and intensity."

For neutrals in the crowd like WRU referee's assessor Les Peard, the fare on offer was riveting.

"This was one of the best cup ties I have seen in years as it ebbed and flowed in such exciting fashion," said Peard.

The Blacks were given first use of the wind and slope and assembled a substantial lead.

Wing Kevin James touched down in the fifth minute, with Stephen Thomas sprinting 60 metres for the next touchdown on 23 minutes.

Keys pulled back to 15-5 with an opportunist try from wing Marcus Johnstone, only for wing Matthew Nuthall to set up a try for full-back King.

However, right on half-time a penalty from Keys fly-half Scott Sneddon reduced the arrears to 22-8.

With the wind on their backs and the slope to encourage them, the Pandy Park side struck back with tries from ex-Cardiff full-back Leon Andrews and centre Carl Pocock.

The tie had been turned on its head, and suddenly the scoreboard displayed that the home side were 23-22 to the good.

Ten long minutes of uncertainty then unfolded as both teams took stock of the situation.

In the end, Spratt's eye for the gaps turned it around for Neath, and he sent co-centre Thomas over from 40 metres.

Referee David Bodilly then overruled his touch judges, who had acknowledged the conversion attempt from Howard Thomas as good.

However, fly-half Thomas landed a 71st-minute penalty, taking Neath into a 30-23 lead.

And four minutes on, more daring running from Spratt resulted in Beach haring over for the watershed try.

A minute into time added on, King burst clear for Neath's sixth try, but the final word went to Keys six minutes later.

Wing Johnstone collected his second try, but it failed to deflect Neath from a possible league and cup double.