Match Report

Neath 41 - Ebbw Vale 7

The Gnoll, Sat 26th Sep 09 KO: 14.30

Neath 41 Ebbw Vale 7

Neath Tries: C Price, G King, A Littlehales, K Phillips (2), K James

Neath Pens : G Mcarthy

Neath Conv: G Mcarthy (4)

Ebbw Vale Tries: A Bevan

Ebbw Vale Pens:

Ebbw Vale Conv: G Bowen

Ebbw Vale Y Card: M Williams

Neath put the disappointment of Tuesday's result against Cardiff behind them with an emphatic win over Ebbw Vale. The All Blacks put on a real show for the fans in what was their first appearance at home this season, and the faithful were rewarded with a free scoring display with the home team running in six tries and took them to the top of the Principlality Premiership.

Coach Patirck Horgan again rang the changes for the visit of the Steelmen with Kristian Phillips and Gareth Mcarthy returning to the back line and Andy Littlehales, Neil Edwards, Craig Price and, for the first time this season, John Bowd starting at no6. Despite Ebbw being rooted to the bottom of the table, Neath were looking to exact some revenge from last season having lost both home and away fixtures and it took till the 14th minute for Gareth Mcarthy to find his range with a penalty.

The opening half saw Neath camped inside the oppositions half and the floodgates opened in the second quarter with Craig Price going over for the first try of the afternoon after good work from the lineout.

The Ebbw defence were struggling to deal with the attacking verve of Neath's backline and after an incisive break through midfield by Kevin James, the home side had notched their second five points with Gareth King finishing off the move. It was King's 50th try in the Welsh Premiership and a excellent way to bring up the landmark.

The incessant Neath pressure told again just five minutes later with Neath working the ball quickly through the hands and Littlehales powering his way through three increasing desperate Ebbw tackles to cross in the corner. It was terrific work by the hooker and Neath ended the half 22-0 to the good, with Ebbw offering very little as an attacking unit, their game undermined completely by some particularly poor kicking and handling errors.

Coach and ex - Neath star Matthew Mcarthy had his work cut out at half time and responded to Neath's domination in all areas of the game by bring on four replacements and switiching their scrum half, Nathan Jones. One of the replacements, Simon Pengelly was particularly impressive in offering some resistance to the Neath onslaught and it was Jones who commitment couldn't be questioned, who sparked a mini revival after half time. His run from deep let Ebbw finally establish some territory in Neath's half and it was from this phase that winger Andrew Bevan eventually found his way over. The conversion from captain Gareth Bowen followed and it was just that response Mcarthy would have wanted from his men. The opening quarter of the second period was a much more even affair with Ebbw putting themselves' on the line in order to hold back Neath's attacking flair, but they could only hold out for so long and the final quarter saw Neath take advantage, blowing Ebbw away with a further three tries.

Kristian Phillips, who had a superb game, showed his natural finishing instinct, speeding past three defenders on the touchline to finish in the corner. The pressure was now forcing Ebbw to crude indiscretions, hooker Matthew Williams was carded for killing the ball and with Mcarthy grateful to add the 3 points, Neath were looking to kill the game off. Kevin James, who was always a danger to the Ebbw defence and full of powerful running, got his reward after and excellent break by replacements Tom James and Eros Evans. James still had a lot of work to do however and bulldozed his way through to the try line leaving three Ebbw defenders in a heap. Phillps got his second try of the match with a simple finish deep in injury time to give Neath a resounding 41-7 victory and gets the last gasp defeat at Cardiff well and truly out of the teams mind.

The result put them top of the Premiership, something which will no doubt please the staff and players having only played one game at home this season. It's back on the road next Saturday with a trip to Glamorgan Wanderers awaiting.