Match Report

Aberavon 15 - Neath 17

Talbot Athletic Ground, Fri 26th Dec 08 KO: 14:30

AMIDST the season of new year predictions, Neath for a fifth successive Welsh Premiership title has suddenly become a possibility.
Going into this Boxing Day clash with Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic, it seemed as if there could be a shift in power.
Neath director of rugby Rowland Phillips dubbed the Wizards the league's form team, and rightly so after winning 18 home matches on the trot.
But having previously failed to produce when it mattered most this season, the champions proved that when the going gets tough, they have the steely edge to pull through.
Glamorgan Wanderers were the last side to card a victory at Aberavon back in November 2007, and in breaking the sequence the Blacks showcased a recent improvement.
Neath made the most of limited second-half chances to carve out the pivotal try for impressive centre Matty James in the 48th minute.
However, Aberavon would have won if the normally reliable Jamie Davies had kicked a simple penalty close to time.
The opening quarter yielded two penalties apiece for Aberavon fly-half Davies and James.
But the Wizards had flanker Darryl Thomas binned in the 22nd minute for entering a ruck from the side, and centre James landed the penalty.
A try-saving tackle by Aberavon hooker Marc Breeze prevented Neath prop Andrew Howell giving a try-scoring pass to wing Kevin James, but the Blacks forged further ahead in the 28th minute. Aberavon were penalised at a ruck close to the posts, with James delivering a fourth penalty.
Against the run of play, the Wizards reduced the arrears to 12-9 on the back of a third penalty from fly-half Davies.
Neath's try came just after Aberavon scrum-half David Pritchard had returned from the bin. Wing James sucked in four defenders and when the ball was switched right by centre Wayne Mitchell, an overlap was created for James to touch down.
In the 57th minute a touchline burst from Breeze almost yielded a home try. Aberavon No. 8 Rory Gallagher then knocked on with the line gaping, but Davies kicked a fourth penalty on the hour.
Aberavon went on dominate the next quarter of an hour, and when they won a penalty in the 75th minute they opted to go for goal. Davies duly obliged to reduce the deficit to 17-15.
And the game looked to be up for Neath when they conceded a 78th-minute penalty in the shadow of their posts.
But uncharacteristically, Davies missed a simple penalty that would have given Aberavon the points.
In the final move, Davies sent a drop-goal attempt left of the posts.
Tony Poole