Match Report

Neath 36 - Aberavon 33

The Gnoll, Sat 26th Dec 09 KO: 16.00

Neath 36
Aberavon 33

Match reoirt courtesy of Tony Poole

NEATH gained a slender victory over old rivals Aberavon to remain top of the Welsh Premiership at the turn of the year.
But more to the point the game was the winner, as this classic contest will live in the memory for years to come.
Both sides were desperate to succeed, and you had to admire Aberavon's never-say-die attitude.
It begged the question if they had kept 15 men on the field they would have probably taken a contest that was made more unpredictable by inconsistent refereeing.
But no one deserved blame, as a crowd in excess of 4,000 made the decision to stick by tradition and stage the Neath-Aberavon clash on Boxing Day proved a wise one.
Deep into injury time, it seemed odds on Aberavon drawing a line under one of the longest losing sequences on the Welsh club scene.
And Neath couldn't have really complained if the Wizards had gained a first Gnoll victory since Boxing Day 1983.
Against all odds, Aberavon led 33-31only for the division's Houdini side to produce an 89th-minute winning try from No 8 Tom Smith that rocked this famous old ground.
Despite having No 8 Rory Gallagher sent off in the 53rd minute for stamping, the Wizards overturned a 24-20 deficit to lead 30-24 and 33-31.
They were also reduced to 13 men in the 75th minute with the yellow carding of wing Steve Davies, but it failed to prevent them digging deep to take the four-times champions all so close.
The bumper Boxing Day crowd lapped up some superb tries - including a classic from Aberavon replacement prop Ryan Bevington - and drama that you would have to go a longway to better.
"The game had just about everything, and both teams seemed to raise their games on the back of the wonderful derby atmosphere," said Neath director of rugby Patrick Horgan.
He continued: "This is what the Welsh Premiership is all about, and anyone who criticises it should have witnessed it.
"Once again we leaned on the fantastic team spirit that is growing week by week - in the end it pulled us through.''
The lead changed hands seven times while both sides squandered 10 points in goal kicks, as the blue touch paper gradually lit.
In the end, Neath built victory around a stronger scrum with props Nicky Downs and Martin Jones performing starring roles.
Back row men Steve Tandy, Lee Evans and No 8 Tom Smith were also to the fore while all-action lock Euros Evans gave his usual 100 per cent.
In the Aberavon pack, lock James King stood out along with captain and flanker Chris Davies while behind the scrum they constantly outshone Neath.
Full-back Paul Bamsey frequently took Aberavon over the gain line while young centres Ben John and Ashley Beck along with scrum-half Rhys Webb blew holes in the home defence.
Former Neath fly-half Matthew Jarvis opened the scoring with a second-minute penalty, but Neath swept into a 9-3 lead via three Arwel Thomas penalties.
But the Wizards then won a 20th-minute penalty try on the advice of a touch judge - Neath scrum-half Kevin Farrell adjudged to have halted Aberavon lock James King close to the try-line.
Farrell was also shown a yellow card, and this sparked an Aberavon purple patch.
The only unsavoury moment was provided by a mass brawl close to the dugouts with Neath prop Martin Jones and opposite number Neil White singled out for yellow card treatment.
Once peace broke out, scrum-half Webb utilised the narrow side to record a grand try and soon after flanker Chris Davies won the foot chase to record another unconverted try.
That took the Wizards clear, but during first-half injury time a long Alec Jenkins pass sent in wing Kristian Phillips for a 12th league try this season.
That reduced arrears to 20-17 at the break, but it was the turn of the Blacks to go on the rampage early in the second half.
Scrum pressure led to them collecting a 44th-minute penalty try that Thomas converted and at 24-20, Neath were in the driving seat.
And that was even more the case when No 8 Gallagher saw red in the 53rd minute.
It remained that way until the 70th minute when Aberavon began to mount a heroic fight-back.
Fly-half Jarvis landed a penalty, and better followed when replacement prop Ryan Bevington surged over for a magnificent try close to the posts.
Jarvis added the extras, Aberavon leading 30-24, only for wing Davies to receive a yellow card on 75 minutes.
A minute later, more scrum pressure led to Neath being awarded another penalty try with replacement Gareth McCarthy seemingly delivering the winning conversion for 31-30.
But the drama continued and an 83rd minute penalty from Jarvis, that made it 33-31, had Aberavon on course for a first Gnoll victory in 26 years.
However, in the 89th minute Neath were held up over the goal line, and they got the pivotal put in at the ensuing scrum five.
Though Aberavon had wing Davies back from the sin bin, the Blacks went for the jugular.
Once more the Neath pack generated a shove, resulting in No 8 Smith being awarded a pushover try despite strenuous efforts from Ospreys colleague Webb to thwart him.

Match stats

Neath: Tries - K. Phillips, T. Smith, Pen tries (2); Cons: A. Thomas, G. McCarthy; Pens: A. Thomas (4)

Team: A. Jenkins; K. James, S. Thomas, N. Brew, K. Phillips; A. Thomas (capt) (repl G. McCarthy 58 mins), K. Farrell; N. Downs, A. Littlehales (repl G. Price h/t), M. Jones, P. Sidoli (repl N. Edwards 51), E. Evans, L. Evans (temp repl J. Reeves 37-39, J Bowd 60), T. Smith, S. Tandy

Aberavon: Tries - R. Webb, C. Davies, R. Bevington, Pen try; Cons: M. Jarvis (2); Pens: M. Jarvis (3)

Team: P. Bamsey; C. Lewis, B. John, A. Beck, S. Davies; M. Jarvis, R. Webb; Neil White (repl R. Bevington 57), M. Breeze, P. Breeze (repl C. Griffiths 47), J. King, G. Ronan (repl A. Lloyd 65), D. Thomas (repl J. Tipuric 57), R. Gallagher (temp repl J. Tipuric 29-36), C. Davies (capt)

Red card: R. Gallagher (Aberavon) 53 mins

Yellow cards: K. Farrell 20, M. Jones 29 (both Neath), N. White 29, S. Davies 75 (both Aberavon)

Referee: David Bodilly (Cardiff)

Neath star choice: Martin Jones