Match Report

Neath 21 - Newport 13

The Gnoll, Sat 5th Dec 09 KO: 14.30

Neath 21
Newport 13

By Tony Poole
At The Gnoll

DIRECTOR of rugby Patrick Horgan pointed to team spirit being a key element in this important Welsh Premiership victory over Newport.
Earlier in the season, the Blacks had wiped out substantial deficits to gain away victories over both Swansea and Llanelli.
And they were once more forced to dig deep after the Black and Ambers made a positive start only to shoot themselves in the foot.
Newport led 13-3 at half time, but were down to 14 men after hooker Andrew Brown saw red for punching Neath centre Stephen Thomas in the 23rd minute.
But with the extra man and a strengthening wind to encourage them, Neath eventually got the victory that took them back to the Premiership summit.
However, just ahead of kick off there was a welcome to the Neath world of propping for Skewen's Jim Reeves.
He took the place of injured Martin Jones, and his first league start threw up a sound showing.
"Pressure told in the end, but the wet weather conditions made it difficult for both sides," said Patrick Horgan.
"The victory was built around an outstanding pack display with hooker Gerwyn Price immense.
"And hats off to young prop Jim Reeves, who did all that was asked of him for an hour.
"It is never easy for a young player to establish himself at this level, especially in the front row, and hopefully Jim can build on the experience.
"We were delighted with this win, and it once more showed that this group of players are building an excellent team spirit.''
Newport, who had only won twice at The Gnoll in the league since a first visit in 1991, got off to a great start.
Former Whitland fly-half Daniel Griffiths slotted over an early penalty, and better followed when they constructed a good try.
Scrum-half Alex Walker and full-back Gareth Wyatt splintered the home defence, and lock Alex Jones was on hand to touchdown.
Fly-half Griffiths added the extras from the touchline, and once again the former champions were punished for making yet another slow start.
They eventually got on the scoreboard via an Arwel Thomas penalty, and it was 10-3 when Brown saw red.
Two minutes later a dust up among the forwards resulted in Neath flanker Lee Evans spending 10 minutes on the sidelines.
More was then seen of the Blacks in attack, and in the 33rd-minute livewire scrum-half Kevin Farrell failed to cling on to a try-scoring pass from half-back partner Thomas.
Newport then stretched their half-time lead to 13-3 on the strength of a 35th-minute penalty from Griffiths.
But with the wind increasing in strength during the interval, the wise money was on Neath to overhaul the 10-point deficit.
However, it took the intervention of club commercial manager Deenna Barton to really get Neath going.
The first rendition from Mrs Barton in the press box of: "Come on boys" led in the 45th minute to man-of-the-match Gerwyn Price making one of his trademark line breaks
Though Price just failed to make it to the try-line, flanker Lee Evans was on hand to touchdown.
Fly-half Thomas converted while on the hour his second penalty made it level pegging on 13-13.
Thomas sent a drop-goal attempt to the left of the posts on 64 minutes - and it now only seemed a question of time before Neath went ahead.
But committed defence time and again kept them at bay, and as time dragged on the home faithful became more anxious.
In the end, Newport infringed in front of their posts, and Thomas knocked over the penalty that gave Neath the lead for a first time.
But straight from the kick off, Newport won a 40-metre penalty that Griffiths sent to the right of the posts.
That formed a big let off for Neath, who celebrated the great escape in relieving Newport of a losing bonus point.
Four minutes into stoppage time, scrum-half Farrell broke on halfway, and wing Kevin James sprinted 40 metres for the try that broke Newport hearts.
This formed a 56th Welsh Premiership try for James, who had one of his best games for the club in years, and a 77th when the old National League is taken into consideration.
While hooker Price was the deserved recipient of the man-of-the-match award, the back row trio of Evans, Gareth Gravell and No 8 John Bowd ran him close.

Match stats

Neath: Tries: L. Evans, K. James; Con: A. Thomas; Pens: A. Thomas (3)

Team: G. King; K. James, S. Thomas (repl A. Jenkins h/t), W. Mitchell, K. Phillips; A. Thomas, K. Farrell; N. Downs, G. Price, J. Reeves (repl E. Lewis 64), N. Edwards, E. Evans, L. Evans (repl P. Sidoli 74), J. Bowd, G. Gravell

Newport: Try: A. Jones; Con: D. Griffiths; Pens: D. Griffiths (2)

Team: G. Wyatt; R. Owen, M. J. Watkins (repl N. Williams 80+3), R. Payne, D. James; D. Griffiths, A. Walker; D. Pattison (repl I. Evans 74), A. Brown, G. Robinson, A. Jones, D. Rosser (repl M. Workman 74), S. Waldron (repl R. Dale 77), A. Coombes (capt), P. Williams (repl M. Leaman 27)

Cards: A. Brown (Newport) red 23, L. Evans (Neath) yellow 25

Referee: Nigel Owens (Pontyberem)

Neath star choice: Gerwyn Price