Match Report

Neath 11 - Bristol 18

The Gnoll, Fri 20th Nov 09 KO: 19.30

Neath 11
Bristol 18

By Tony Poole
At The Gnoll

NEATH were unable to make a winning start in the British & Irish Cup against Bristol, going down to a narrow defeat against the English Championship side.
A stronger West Country side ran out deserved winners, leaving the Blacks looking to break their duck against Nottingham at Meadow Lane this Sunday.
Nottingham opened their campaign with a slender 5-0 win at Heriots FP while in the other Pool B fixture, Munster won the day, 20-13, in Coventry.
That means in all probability, the Blacks will have to win their four remaining pool matches to stand any genuine chance of reaching the competition semi-finals.
Neath made just one change from the side that was due to face Pontypridd last Saturday with centre Wayne Mitchell replacing injured Nathan Brew.
Bristol, who lie second to Exeter Chiefs in the Championship table, were without former Neath flanker James Merriman and ex-Ospreys scrum-half Jason Spice.
But they included former Ebbw Vale and Bridgend flanker Nathan Budgett, who won the last of 12 Welsh caps against Scotland as long ago as 2002.
Bristol dominated the opening exchanges, and pressure eventually told in the 15th minute when fly-half Chris Ashwin knocked over a simple penalty.
However, the lead proved short-lived, as the Blacks won field position for fly-half Arwel Thomas to land an equalising penalty against his one of his former clubs.
Soon after Neath lost wing Kevin Morgan to a shoulder injury with Alec Jenkins taking his place.
Neath came more into the game midway through the half only for the West Country side to construct a superb 31st-minute try.
Wing George Watkins latched on to a wayward kick, close to his 10-metre line, and broke the first line of defence.
Centre Jack Gadd carried on the move, resulting in No 8 Ian Grieve touching down at the posts with fly-half Ashwin adding the extras.
However, Neath made a positive response, winning sound field positions for wing Kevin James to go on some barnstorming runs.
But resolute Bristol defence prevented Neath from making any inroads, and they trailed 10-3 at the break.
A minute into the second half, fly-half Thomas reduced arrears with an angled penalty after Bristol failed to release the kick off.
A 49th-minute line-break from centre Stephen Thomas then won the Blacks a sound field position, and a defensive blunder dished up a try at the corner flag for scrum-half Kevin Farrell.
Though the conversion attempt from Thomas just failed, it gave Neath the lead for a first time.
And with the score favouring Neath for the only time, 11-10, errors began to creep into Bristol's play.
Fly-half Ashwin missed a 30-metre penalty on 55 minutes while a penalty halted a promising Neath raid inside the Bristol 22.
But significantly after that the Blacks were unable to place the Bristol try-line under any kind of pressure.
Worse followed when they had lock Peter Sidoli binned in the 63rd minute, and fly-half Ashwin nailed the ensuing penalty.
However, with the score only favouring the West Country side 13-11, they surprisingly refused a kickable penalty.
Nothing came of the subsequent five-metre lineout, but pressure eventually told in the 75th minute.
A Neath scrum five was wheeled, and replacement scrum-half Sam Alford flopped on a loose ball in the in-goal area to claim a try that went unconverted.
Though Bristol had ex-Cardiff hooker Ross Johnson yellow carded late on, there was no way back for the Blacks.

Match stats

NEATH: G. King; K. James, W. Mitchell (G McCarthy 68 mins), S. Thomas, K. Morgan (A Jenkins 16); A. Thomas (capt), K. Farrell (T James 73); N. Downs, G. Price (A Littlehales 60), M. Jones (J Reeves 76), N. Edwards (H Pugh 60), P. Sidoli, E. Evans, G. Gravell, L. Evans (C Price 73)

Scorers: Try - K Farrell; Pens: A Thomas (2)

BRISTOL: J. Tovey (M Davies 76); M. Turner, L. Eves, J. Gadd (S Giddens 52), G. Watkins; C. Ashwin, R. Shaw (S Alford 69); A. Clarke, O. Hayes (R Johnson 56), D. Crompton (capt) (M Vunipola 63), J. Brown (B Glynn 56), D. Barry, N. Budgett, I. Grieve (M Mamma 71), R.Pennycook

Scorers: Tries - I Grieve, S Alford; Con: C Ashwin; Pens: C Ashwin (2)

Yellow cards: P Sidoli (Neath) 63, R Johnson (Bristol) 80+2

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Irish RU)

Neath star choice: Kevin Farrell