Match Report

Bedwas 15 - Neath 34

Bridgfield, Sat 29th Aug 09 KO: 14.30

Match report courtesy of Tony Poole

NEATH mounted a strong finish during their seasonal opener at Bedwas to set up a bonus point victory.

A new-look Neath side are still a longway from the finished product, and attention needs to be given to a scrum that creaked at times during the second half.

But there were plenty of positives for the new coaching team of Steve Williams, Leigh Davies and Kevin Morgan to reflect on.

"We lost our way at times, especially during the third quarter, but to come to Bedwas and not concede a try was sound," explained coach Williams, the former Neath and Wales No 8 who was on the Ulster coaching staff last term.

"The team haven't played too many matches together, and this was sometimes reflected in the performance.

"But in fairness to Bedwas, they were a highly motivated side and their goal kicker Gethin Worgan frequently punished us with good shots at goal.''

Though the Blacks played into a strong wind during the opening half, they looked more likely to score tries.  All Bedwas had to offer during the half was the boot of fly-half Worgan, who banged over four penalties from six attempts along with a drop-goal.

Neath came from six points back to hit the front on the strength of two tries that both stemmed from Nathan Brew line breaks.
Brew spilt the home defence in the 16th minute and wing David Evans, who came off during the second half with a leg injury, got their opening try.

Four minutes later, player-coach Morgan made the initial thrust, and Brew sent man-of-the-match Gareth Gravell haring over for a fine try close to the posts.  This one was improved on by captain and fly-half Arwel Thomas while Bedwas pulled back to 9-12 with a second Worgan penalty.

But the binning on the half-hour mark of Bedwas lock Andrew Tibbatts - for killing the ball - had serious repercussions.
The Blacks applied scrum pressure, leading to referee David Jones running out of patience and awarding Neath a penalty try that fly-half Thomas converted.

But two penalties in the approach to half time from Worgan narrowed the gap to 19-15 at the break.  And with Neath guilty of huffing and puffing, it remained that way until fly-half Thomas delivered a 64th minute penalty to give them some breathing space.
Bedwas almost scored a try through Dragons prop Hugh Gustafson on 66 minutes while soon after Neath prop Martin Jones also went close.

The introduction of Gareth King for injured David Evans in the 53rd minute provided Neath were more in the way of a cutting edge.
And as time dragged on, the influence of new Neath captain Thomas began to unravel the home challenge.

However, Gareth McCarthy - who only replaced centre Brew in the 72nd minute - collected the pivotal try a minute later from a first touch.  It was down to a searing midfield break from wing Alec Jenkins, and the touchdown wrapped up the bonus point.
Fly-half Thomas added the extras to make it 29-15 and during the closing stages, Neath lasted the pace much better.

With Bedwas reduced to a defensive capacity, centre Luke Ford sent wing Alec Jenkins in at the corner during time added on.

Match stats

Bedwas 15
Pens: G. Worgan (4); drp-gl: G. Worgan
S. Thomas; D. Hitchings (repl D. Deardon 77 mins), K. Owen, T. Cooper, L. Pearson; G. Worgan, J. Pizey (repl T. Dickens 75); H. Gustafson (repl M. Petit 80+3), K. Crawford (repl A. Fowler 72), K. Jenkins, J. Murphy, A. Tibbatts (repl R. Mordecai 72), H. Jenkins (capt) (repl L. Dyckoff 71), D. Mattravers, S. Phillips

Neath 34
Tries: D. Evans, G. Gravell, G. McCarthy, A. Jenkins, Pen try; Cons: A. Thomas (3); Pen: A. Thomas
K. Morgan; D. Evans (repl G. King 53), N. Brew (repl G. McCarthy 72), L. Ford, A. Jenkins; A. Thomas (capt), K. Farrell (repl T. James 78); M. Jones (repl J. Reeves 79), A. Littlehales (repl A. James 57), V. Lott, N. Edwards, E. Evans (repl H. Pugh 78), M. Collins (repl C. Price 71), N. Thomas, G. Gravell

Yellow card: A. Tibbatts (Bedwas) 30

Referee: David Jones (Blackwood)

Star choice: Gareth Gravell