Match Report

Heriot's 21 - Neath 39

Goldenacre, Sun 14th Feb 10 KO: 14.00

Heriot's 21
Neath 38

By Tony Poole

IT proved a case of third time lucky for Neath in Pool B of the British & Irish Cup against Heriot's at Goldenacre on Sunday.
Having lost their two opening ties to Bristol and Nottingham back in November, the Blacks took the spoils on a 6-3 try-count.
But with leaders Munster having gained an 18-3 home victory over Nottingham on Saturday, the Irish province remain in firm control of the group.
In the other group match last weekend, Bristol stormed to a 40-15 home win over Coventry.
Neath hit the ground running in the Edinburgh suburbs, and were 38-0 up at the break.
The Blacks built victory around an effervescent display from ex-Llandovery scrum-half Tom James.
James was excellent during Neath's purple patch during the first half, and also looked at home in a full-back role during the second period.
Young scrum-half Ryan Jones also turned in an encouraging display, as did flanker Craig Price and lock Haydn Pugh.
"The most pleasing aspect of the victory over Heriot's was the way our youngsters performed - some out of position," said Neath head coach Patrick Horgan.
"Our first-half display was excellent and although the boys then took their foot of the gas, I have to be pleased with a bonus-point win.
"This victory has left us in good heart to take on Ebbw Vale away next Sunday in a rearranged league fixture.''
A fourth-minute try from Craig Price went unconverted while three minutes later fellow back row man Gareth Gravell followed him over the whitewash.
Fly-half Gareth McCarthy converted this try, and these early scores built confidence.
Neath then launched a sweeping 10th-minute raid from inside their 22 - fly-half McCarthy and wing Kevin James to the fore - and it resulted in scrum-half Tom James touching down with McCarthy converting.
More good work from scrum-half James paved the way for a Haydn Pugh's bonus-point try in the 24th minute - a third McCarthy conversion made it 26-0.
The point-a-minute sequence was maintained on the half-hour mark when wing Richard Smith played a leading part in try from centre Stephen Thomas. Fly-half McCarthy added the extras.
However, Neath had lock Euros Evans binned in the 34th minute, but just before the break the 14 men got a sixth try.
Again it stemmed from slick hands inside their 22 with flanker Gravell and centre Stephen Thomas blasting holes in the home defence.
Wing Kevin James took up the running, and some trademark hand offs led to him touching down wide out.
Though Neath led 38-0 at the break, roles were then reversed with the Scottish league and cup winners collecting three tries.
Hooker Finlay Gillies, who recently represented the Scottish Club side against France, touched down on 45 minutes with captain and scrum-half Graham Wilson converting.
The Blacks had a good spell at this juncture, only to get turned over inside the home 22, and centre Max Nimmo recorded a 52-minute try that Wilson once more goaled.
That cut the deficit to 38-14, but Heriot's only had one more try up their sleeves.
It went in the 70th minute to flanker Peter Eccles, scrum-half Wilson converting, but by this stage the Blacks were home and dry.

MATCH STATS

Heriot's: Tries - F Gillies, M Nimmo, P Eccles; Cons: G Wilson (3)

Team: C Goudie; B Roberts, M Nimmo, R Mill, A Douglas; G Rutherford, G Wilson (capt); A Dymock, F Gillies, M Welsh, P O'Connor, C Osazuwa, P Eccles, C Fusaro, J Syme

Neath: Tries - C Price, G Gravell, T James, H Pugh, S Thomas, K James; Cons: G McCarthy (4)

Team: K Morgan (A Jenkins 51 mins); K James, S Thomas (Ryan Jones 51), W Mitchell, R Smith; G McCarthy, T James; N Downs, A Littlehales (A James 65), E Lewis (M Jones 65), H Pugh (N Edwards 52), E Evans (M Collins 43), L Evans (A Thomas 73), G Gravell, C Price

Yellow card: E Evans (Neath) 35 mins

Referee: M Tutty (RFU)

Neath star choice: Tom James