Match Report

Neath 36 - Pontypool 31

The Gnoll, Sat 6th Sep 08 KO: 14:30

Neath 36 Pontypool 31
Neath made to work hard for their victory as Pontypool push them all the way, in exciting opening season match.
Saturday 6th September 2008
Pontypool returned to the premiership after two seasons of dominating division 1 east and came to the Gnoll determined to push the double champs on their home patch.
The Gwent club did just that, getting points on the board after 10 minutes with a penalty kick from Gavin O'driscol .

Neath 0 Pontypool 3
Centre Phil Price got Pooler's first try of the season after breaking the Neath defence, O Driscol added the conversion making it 10-0 to the visitors.
O ‘driscol was given another pop at goal added the 3 point much to the delight of the pooler fans who had made the trip down west.
Neath 0 Pontypool 13

After a dismal opening quarter Neath finally managed to get into their own 22 with full back Gareth King passed to young centre Kristian Phillips who crossed in the corner, Matt Jarvis got the conversion making it Neath 7 Pontypool 13.

The try gave the blacks confidence, a nice break from Gareth King took them back into their 22, Gerwyn Price made another great break but the ball was knocked on.
Full back Gareth King made a fantastic break , passed to Kristian Phillips but the blacks were called back by the touch judge for stepping into touch.
Half Time Neath 7 Pontypool 13

A half time bucket collection was held for the Gareth Jones Trust Fund, and former Neath players auctioned a unique gold maltese cross ring which raised £500 for the cause. The winning bidder Ceri James of James Motor Company plans to present the ring to Gareth's young son Coel.

Matthew Jarvis started the second half in fine fashion with a penalty kick , which edged the blacks closer to Ponty 10 - 13.
A second try from Kristian Phillips, who turned 18 on Tuesday put the blacks in front for the first time in the match, with fellow teen Matthew Jarvis converting making it Neath 17 - Pooler 13
A dropped ball from Gareth King resulted in Pooler crossed for their 2nd of the afternoon - Phil Price the scorer once again, Odriscol added to his tally to put their noses in front.
Neath 17 Pontypool 20

Play was stopped for 10minutes with a injury to Pontypool's Nicky Blake, who was stretchered off with a fracture to his lower left leg
Matthew Nuthall crossed for Neath's third of the afternoon, with number 10 Matthew Jarvis adding another 2 points to the board
Neath 24 Pontypool 20.

Kevin James bounded over for his first try of the season ,with 18 year old Matt Jarvis converting the try.
But just as Neath began to relax, Pooler came back with a try from scrum half Tommy Edwards, the conversion kick from reliable O driscol went wide making it 31- 28 to Neath, luckily the home side responded with a try from Full back Gareth King making it 36-28 to the blacks.

Unfortunately minutes later Kingy was deemed to have taken out Pooler's scrum half Tom Edwards, and was issued with his first yellow card in the Neath jersey during his two years at the club.
O ‘driscol made no mistake with the penalty final score Neath 36 Pontypool 31.