Match Report

Bedwas 20 - Neath 57

Bridgefield, Sat 27th Sep 08 KO: 14:30

Sunshine day as Neath sweep Bedwas aside

CHAMPIONS Neath matched the autumn sunshine in sweeping to a bright and breezy victory over under-the-weather Bedwas.
The Blacks are beginning to hit a rich vein of form, carrying on where they left off the previous week against Cross Keys.

During the final quarter against Keys they amassed 40 unanswered points, while it was also one-way traffic for long periods in Bedwas.
"We've enjoyed a 100-minute period of domination covering two matches, and it has led to our graph moving in an upward direction," said Neath head coach Patrick Horgan.

Horgan went on to point out that with the score on 38-13 it was a fitting time to introduce young fly-half Matthew Jarvis.
 "Matthew had a chance to see how things are done at this level, and probably learned more than if he had started the game.

"He went on to play a full part in a good victory, but for me the standout performance came from lock Haydn Pugh.''
Despite conceding an early penalty to ex-Swansea man Stuart Thomas, Neath soon warmed to their task.
Torrents of pressure eventually led to wing Liam Powell being held up at the flag, and flanker John Bowd touched down from the ensuing line-out.
However, the opening stages were again dominated by Neath hooker Gerwyn Price.

Following a top showing against Keys, his former club, Price turned in an effervescent cameo against Bedwas.
His 15th-minute try formed one of the highlights as he beat man after man on a mazy run to the line.
Unfortunately, Price fell awkwardly and twisted a knee, but by the time he called it a day in the 32nd minute Neath had already banked a bonus point.
Bedwas full-back Thomas landed another penalty midway through the half, trimming the deficit to 12-6, but in the 22nd minute Neath claimed a third try.

A break from strong-running centre Dafydd Lockyer released wing Kevin James for a 47th Premiership try.
By now Bedwas were beginning to chase shadows, and a fine 50-metre dash to the try-line by Lockyer brought Neath a quickfire bonus point and another try for him made it 33-6 at the break.

However, Bedwas displayed opportunism on the resumption. A Neath handling move came to grief inside the home 22 and fly-half Matthew Minty raced clear.
Though Matthew Nuthall got back to cut him down, an inside pass set up a try for centre Tom Williams, nephew of Wales and British Lions legend JPR Williams.

Former Neath back-row man Hywel Jenkins was binned in the 52nd minute - and two tries were added during the Bedwas captain's absence.
Powerful prop Nicky Downs stormed over for a 54th-minute try, and soon after replacement hooker Andrew Littlehales dabbed down, making it 45-13.
Silky running from replacement fly-half Jarvis led to him collecting a first Premiership try and he added the touchline conversion for good measure.
Only resolute tackling then prevented Bedwas suffering an even worse fate and another ex-Neath man, Chris Anderson, got the second home try.
Anderson touched down in the 79th minute, but there was still time for Neath to have the final word.

Five minutes into time added on, replacement wing David Evans squeezed over for a corner try - his fourth in the league this season.
The conversion attempt by Jarvis just failed, leaving Neath just short of the mark achieved in a 59-12 success at the ground during 2006.
Following a dire performance at Pontypridd on September 13, Neath have answered critics in bouncing back with two convincing victories.
Though neither Cross Keys nor Bedwas are likely to challenge for league honours this season, both in the past have caused Neath problems.
But it is over the next three weekends that the champions will be tested on the strength of successive home games against Bridgend, Newport and Cardiff.

"It was bitterly disappointing to lose the way we did against Pontypridd, but we are building nicely going into three consecutive home matches," concluded Horgan.

Tony Poole