Match
The Rowland Phillips Perspective
Match Feedback from Neath Rugby's head coach Mr Rowland Phillips
Swansea
Last night's game was an excellent way to round off the league campaign with an impressive win over Swansea, who have been very impressive of late.
We can't deny the fact that its been a difficult last 3 games, motivating the players when the league was won.
We were impressive last night, the boys played good rugby and the commitment of the players was excellent.
I would like to thank the great support during the season but like the players we all have one major event left, that we all play a big part in.
A lot has been said about the kick off time BUT now all the talk is done, and the dust settled we are in the final and we are asking for our supporters to put frustrations behind them and get behind us 100% to help us achieve something special.
Rowland
Pontypridd
On Friday night I was disappointed with the result but more disappointed with the performance.
Having said that we had made 12 changes from the Glamorgan Wanderers game and the boys hadn't played as a unit before.
Nevertheless we knew it was going to be tough and we did expect to play better and win the game.
The outcome is that Pontypridd are favourites going into the final regardless of how everyone else wants to view the situation.
With the Swansea game taking place this evening I would like to call on all our supporters to be as vocal as possible as we need to use this game as a springboard to the final.
Dont forget ladies go free!
Rowland
Glamorgan Wanderers Cup Win
After a difficult week it was very pleasing to get the win against Glamorgan Wanderers which has put us into the Konica Minolta Cup final.
Our performance at times was some of our best rugby of the season, and I felt we out muscled Glamorgan Wanderers but at times our play was not as good, especially when our all out attack policy left us venerable in turnover situations.
Even at this late stage in the season we are still learning lessons and improving but it's a fantastic achievement and testament to the squad that we have reached the final of the cup again.
Our next opponents at the Gnoll will be our cup final opponents, Pontypridd. The way we played yesterday and the way they played on Saturday it promises to be a cracker of a game.
So get down to the Gnoll and get into Cup Final Fever this Friday kick off 7.15pm
It has been a difficult week with the injury to Snid but all our thoughts are with him and his family and we are hoping for a speedy recovery.
Rowland
Cardiff
A bittersweet day in more than one way, bitter that we lost the game and sweet that won the league.
Yes we were disappointed with the result and yes our performance was indifferent, sometimes good sometimes poor but this was always going to be a difficult game for us to play, the league had been won and Cardiff were fighting to keep 2nd spot and I suppose if we want to be honest they were hungrier for that result.
Having said that when you wade through all the emotions good and bad during yesterdays game then to win the league this year and for the last four years it is recognition of the consistency of Neath's performances during the season.
To wrap the league up with 3 games to go is a great achievement and now our focus entirely turns to the cup and we know that we need to improve.
Supporters demands and expectations are always high but going into our cup game against Glamorgan Wanderers we need to extra vocal edge.
Snid had a serious injury in yesterdays game and as soon as we know more on how he is, we will post on this guestbook.
Rowland
Rowland on the league win
"As the news filtered in from Euguene Cross Park last night the realisation that we had won the league became a reality.
As a squad, team and club we are really pleased with our league title achievement but any thoughts that this would drop our intensity and attitude for the rest of the season would be mistaken.
We are a proud club with a tremendous history built on hard work and tremendous attitude and these qualities will be shown at the forefront of our game for the remainder of the season.
Congratulations to the players and the rest of the staff at Neath Rugby on their efforts to date but we are mindful now that we need to keep performing until the end of the season.
I would also like to acknowledge the great support we have had home and away so far this season, I refer to it every week in my coaches column but it becomes even more relative when we push through to the end of season. Show your appreciation of the efforts players have put in by getting behind them for the rest of the games.
From a personal point of view it's been a challenging season so far but the extra work and sacrifices we have put through during since September makes it all worthwhile.
A special note to the team, well done boys but now lets turn a good season into a great one!"
See you Sunday
Rowland
Thoughts on Newport
Another very pleasing result on Saturday against a very committed Newport team without any league or cup pressures.
I was pleased with the result but not so pleased with the general performance. Two many handling errors, to many infringements and as a result it created frustrations for the players as well as coaches.
We set such high standards at Neath that when we don't fulfil our potential we all feel disappointed.
Having said that we came out in the 2nd half refreshed and focused with a steely determination to put things right. To a point this is what we did and as mentioned earlier to get a good win at this stage of the season is what it is all about.
Our focus is now to play to our potential, ignore all the hype generated around us, continue to improve our standards and keep winning.
Rowland
Thoughts on Cross Keys (Konica Minolta Cup Q. Final)
Like you the supporters I too went through a full range of emotions on Saturday.
First and foremost a great result in a very difficult place to play, allowing us to progress in this competition.
Performance wise we took to the field with confidence, organised and with a clear game plan.
For the majority that is how we executed the first half of the game, we built up a healthy lead but we were not out of sight.
The turnaround in performance from half time is something we will challenge this week - why we went from being in control to loosing all momentum and allowing Cross Keys back into the game.
At 23-22 down I was probably at my vocal peak on the touchline but what satisfies me as a coach is how we can deal with problems and challenges on the field in a positive way.
It was very impressive how the team regained momentum and asserted authority.
We needed our big players to put their hands up at a crucial time in the game and that's what they did. In the end it was a satisfying result bearing in mind we only lost control for about 20minutes.
We are now bouncing between competitions and our focus reverts back to the league on Saturday against Newport.
This is our first home game since March 1st so we want as many of our special supporters at the Gnoll for what could be a very special season for us at Neath Rugby.
Just remember our doors open from 11am - Ospreys v Leicester will be shown live on the big screen at 2.30pm with Neath v Newport kicking off at 4.30pm.
Rowland
Thoughts on Bedwas
Saturday's conditions were difficult, but the boys stepped up to the challenge and put the Aberavon game behind them.
Bedwas is never an easy place to play, especially in windy/rainy conditions. It was an opportunity to put in a performance and the boys controlled the game and played some good rugby.
Credit must go to our loyal supporters who braved the awful conditions, your support was invaluable to the team.
Our focus now turns to our cup game against Cross Keys on Saturday. We are expecting the field to be heavy but our experiences of playing in Bedwas conditions will stand us in good stead.
Your support will make a huge difference in Pandy Park, I look forward to seeing (and hearing!) you there.
Rowland
Thoughts on Aberavon
Aberavon was a very disappointing Neath performance that led to a very disappointing result.
The amount of games played away from home in the last month caught up with us.
What our players have achieved over the last 6 weeks has been outstanding but yesterday was admittedly a poor performance, and we looked tired.
The fallout of this result will cause a huge reaction amongst our fans purely because the loss was against local rivals Aberavon and we accept that we were not up to scratch.
We now need a united Neath to support the boys in yet another tricky away fixture at Bedwas.
We can't ignore the fact that that standards were not reached against Aberavon and we will work hard on them this week.
Yesterday we looked like a team who has played a series of hard matches and my job this week will be to freshen the boys up, refocus and get the team back into a winning frame of mind.
The players, supporters and coaching staff always have the same feeling when we encounter a defeat and especially so yesterday in our first loss since November, losing
becomes even harder.
We are a winning club and we know what we need to do to put things right for next Saturday.
Rowland
Thoughts on Cross Keys
Cross Keys is traditionally a very tough place to play, especially on a wet Friday night.
I thought we played a good solid game of rugby but conditions did dictate the quality of rugby on times.
Cross Keys to their credit had a very effective kicking game which always meant that we had to build our momentum from deeper areas.
Our general game was solid and we scored two very good team tries. We know that we have to travel to Pandy Park in early April for our cup quarter final, so it was pleasing to go up and get a result, it was a good marker to lay down and again we were pleased not to concede a try - credit to our determined defence.
Now our focus turns to our derby game against Aberavon who have strung together a series of impressive results lately. They have certainly been building momentum of late leading into the busy close of the season.
We know it will be tough and we look forward to these special derby days. Where we have had the edge of late has been down to our support and we want to show a huge club unity on Bank Holiday Monday to support our players.
Rowland
Ps dont forget live band the Vips come to the club on Easter Sunday 4-6pm
Thoughts on Newport
After recording such a big score on Saturday people would look at the Newport result and think Neath struggled.
But as a coach I felt this performance was possibly an improvement on Saturday's game.
Our all round team performance and commitment was outstanding.
In the changing room after the game the boys were bitterly disappointed that they allowed Newport to score a try at the death, which is an indication of the pride the players have in their personal and team standards.
Newport played their part in an entertaining game but our preparation during the week and our attitude going into the fixture was excellent. The result for me indicated an improved team performance.
We now have a series of away games that will help build character and the repetition of Neath as a club.
Now our focus turns to Cross Keys away in the league next Friday night.
People may want to focus on our cup encounter at Pandy Park but our playing focus doesn't go beyond our next game -Cross Keys away will now become out most important game of the season.
Your support on the road is vital to our success - see you on the 14th.
Rowland
Ps: Don't forget the former player forum taking place on Thursday 13th March involving a star studded panel of Ron Waldron, Brian Thomas, yours truly & the player dubbed the best second row ever to play for France, Bernard Chevalier.
All supporters welcome - the evening kicks off at 7.30pm.
Thoughts on Llandovery
The boys put in a good performance on Saturday and it just seemed to be one of those days where everything that we tried came off for us.
It was an opportunity for us to build confidence and I was pleased with the way in which we played for the full 80minutes.
Special mention to Howard Thomas who set a club and premiership record of 40 points - previously held by James Hook.
However we must now keep our feet on the ground ahead of our tough match against Newport on Wednesday night.
After their win against Pontypridd on Saturday they to will be looking to build on their recent form but we need to remain focused as Rodney Parade is never an easy place to go.
I spent most of my weekend at the Gnoll, treating my family to Sunday lunch at the clubhouse in a non rugby capacity yesterday afternoon.
The day was very enjoyable and it was great to see so many new faces using our facilities, I hope these people, twinned with you our supporters will continue to support the club in such events.
I know they are expecting a big crowd for the Ireland game so make sure you get to the clubhouse early so you don't miss out on your free food!
See you at Rodney Parade.
Rowland
Thoughts on Bridgend
The Bridgend game complimented a good focused week for us as a squad. We needed a good team performance to highlight the fact that Tonmawr was just one of those blip days.
Bridgend are traditionally a tough team to play at the Brewery Field but we controlled most of the game and played some quality rugby. The score didn't really reflect the dominance we had during the game but Bridgend are a tough team and came back in the second half.
The game was a great spectacle and Howard Thomas, who had a very good game put us 7 points clear with a conversion, as a squad I think the boys felt a lot more comfortable at this point.
In the context of this season and past seasons the win against Bridgend was a special moment.
Our focus this week turns to our game against Llandovery and our preparation will be intense to ensure we perform in front of our home support.
Rowland
Thoughts on Tonmawr
Saturday was a frustrating and poor Neath performance, we lacked some composure which is concerning because we created enough opportunities to build a healthy lead by half time.
Frustrations set in, we made far too many errors and our performance went down hill.
Taking nothing away from Tonmawr who played very well but at times they added to our frustrations. I am sure they will be very pleased with the way they performed.
The only redeeming factor for us was that we kept spirits high, most notably with our performance in the last 10 minutes when at 20-10 things were not looking good for us. I can't question the character of the team to come back from that, it was an amazing feat.
There is not much left to comment on but we are confident of how we are doing things and have to put the Tonmawr display down to one of those days.
A pleasing aspect is that our game against Bridgend on Friday night will allow us to re gather, re focus and move on.
Thanks for all the support on Saturday, when we needed that extra something at the end of the match.
Your support would be welcome at the Brewery Field also, in what is set to be a tough encounter.
Rowland
Thoughts on Ebbw Vale
It was a great result for us, we knew it was going to be difficult at Eugene Cross Park but after the home defeat to Ebbw in October we were determined to get a result.
It was a good team performance we didn't fully get the scores we deserved but to travel to Ebbw Vale on a Friday night and get a result is a great statement of the players performance.
Our attention now turns to our tricky cup fixture against Tonmawr, we will be working hard as a squad to prepare for the challenge this week and hope that the short trip will be supported well by Neath's army of fans.
Rowland
Thoughts on the Buccaresi game
Again I was really pleased with another winning performance against Buccaresi, which completed a busy yet successful week for Neath Rugby.
After the success of the Konica Minolta Cup game it was another opportunity against Buccaresi to give more players within our squad a game of rugby. Some returning from injury and some who probably have not had enough game time and also an opportunity for some young players who could become the future of Neath Rugby.
I was delighted with the commitment and organization displayed and in sometimes trying circumstances we maintained a level of discipline and composure which played a major factor to help us win the game. Now being the Ex Welsh defense coach another pleasing factor was our defense and that was reinforced by us not conceding a point (see I can still do it!).
The importance of this game was reinforced by the attendance of Dennis Gethin President and David Pickering Chairman of the WRU, although my request to be reinstated as Welsh defense coach fell on deaf years!
Our squad of players both senior and new all played their hearts out for the club and put their bodies on the line with pride and commitment. As a coach these moments are special and my only disappointment was the small crowd of supporters who where at the ground to witness a proud occasion for our club.
Next we travel to Ebbw Vale where we will need a big performance to get a result. I need the Neath supporter factor to help to give the players the extra boost for us to achieve success.
See you there.
Rowland
Thoughts on Swansea cup game
We were delighted with the win & are happy to progress into the next round of the cup.
There were pleasing aspects of our performance, and we scored some good tries but the final phases are areas that we need to work on ahead of our match against Bucharest.
Rowland
Thoughts on Neath v Maesteg
It was a good win in extremely difficult conditions.
Generally it was a very controlled performance which we maintained standards throughout the game.
The only problem was as playing conditions worsened the game deteriorated as a skeptical.
Having said that the set piece was controlled & our ability to create opportunities in bad conditions was pleasing.
Another factor was that we didn't concede a try & on a couple of occasions we were under the cosh discipline allowed us to deal with the threat.
It was one of those games where frustrations could have crept in but on reflection it was a solid performance & a good win.
Rowland
Thoughts on Glamorgan Wanderers v Neath
We were very pleased with the team performance at Glamorgan Wanderers. Some people may focus on events over the last 10 minutes of the match but I was really pleased with our general performance & control of the game.
As far as our season is concerned this has been our best performance to date. Yes there has been lots to learn from & improve & we will look at the last 10 minutes but we are confident this is something we can put right.
We shouldn't take anything away from Glamorgan Wanderers who kept playing till the end to get their tries.
Previously Glamorgan Wanderers has always been a place where we have struggled to perform so it was pleasing for us to come away with a bonus point win.
One pleasing aspect of the match was the return of Wayne Mitchell who has been out of action for us for almost 18months.
Mitch looked like he has never been away so it's a huge positive for Neath that's hes back fit. We are sure that he will go from strength to strength as his match fitness improves.
Our focus now moves onto Maesteg who recorded an impressive win against Llanelli on Saturday.
We know we have plenty to work on to continue to play to our potential. I hope that supporters will be as vocal at Maesteg as they were at Glamorgan Wanderers.
Rowland
Thoughs on Neath v Llanelli
It was a disappointing performance but we were pleased to get a draw out of it. Overall we were frustrated with the general standards we played during the game which is something which will be addressed in training this evening.
In recent weeks we have really started playing closer to our potential so it was frustrating on Saturday that we failed to create opportunities & most things we tried didn't work.
Having said that we didn't loose and this week will be an important one for us to dig in & iron out problems ahead of the Wanderers game, a big performance is a must.
Gerry Jasperse is running a supporters bus for the game which will leave the Gnoll at 11am.
The bus will be stopping for a meal/drinks at the Pied Piper in Bridgend on route & anyone interested on making the trip is asked to contact Gerry on his mobile or via the clubhouse.
See you there.
Rowland
Aberavon & Swansea Thoughs
Firstly it is important to make reference to the fact that the team that played against Aberavon and Swansea were totally professional over the festive season. We trained Christmas Eve & New years eve & I think some of the boys would have happily trained on Christmas day, but we thought it was important to spend a little bit of time with our family!
There were some battered Neath played come the close of play at St Helens & we were pleased with the victory. The bonus point was something which gave the boys real confidence and to be at the top of the table at the beginning of 2008 is great for us.
A special mention must be given to Euros Evans and how he has performed in the last few weeks in particular.
He is a non nonsense kind of guy who has earned the respect of you our supporters and I think he put his body on the line against against Swansea.
Now our attention turns to Llanelli who will be keen to come to the Gnoll to pick up the points. The Neath squad were overwhelmed with the fantastic support they received against Aberavon & we hope this you will be as vocal against our West Walian rivals!
Rowland
Neath v Blackwood Stars
The victory was very pleasing for us, the game went well and visiting somewhere unfamiliar can always be a potential banana skin.
We dealt with the challenge and are pleased to be progressing into the next round of the cup.
Blackwood Stars attitude & application was outstanding and the welcome we had in their clubhouse afterwards was wonderful.
Now our thoughts turn to Aberavon I call on all Neath fans to come out and support us on boxing day.
We have a wonderful day of entertainment planned with live music from Aubrey Parsons, Neath schools v Swansea Schools prior to the game and of course the big match, Neath v Aberavon.
Kick off is at 2.30pm and we are pre selling the tickets from our retail outlet in 13 old market st, Neath, or online.
Rowland
Thoughts ahead of Neath v Blackwood Stars
Where Saturday's game is concerned cup matches are always great occasions for everyone involved.
As always we will have huge respect for the opposition and we are looking forward to a exciting game of rugby at Blackwood.
It's good to finally get some game time after recent postponements, at last we can focus on playing to our potential.
Over the last few weeks we have trained hard and the boys are bursting to get back on the park.
I urge all the loyal supporters to be there for the game to witness the start of a new era for Neath Rugby. As you have done in the past get behind the club 100% and help us fulfil our potential.
Rowland
Neath v Cardiff
Obviously again we are hugely disappointed with Saturdays performance.
We prepared well in the week leading up the game but we felt at times we played well.
We are low in confidence but are fully aware that our next league game will be a crucial one.
Rowland
Pontypridd V Neath
Having controlled the opening quarter, we stepped off things far too much. The game was influenced by some major moments, and in the end we failed to generate any real pressure.
Some areas of our play, like the ruck area, showed a big improvement, and we thwarted Pontypridd on the ground.
But a general lack of control cost us the game.
Cardiff will be a difficult test on Saturday and again we need to focus and concentrate on getting the basics right and securing the win.
Rowland
Neath v Cross Keys
Cross Keys was a frustrating kind of victory, but it allowed us to keep building momentum. It is now down to us to play in an attractive manner, even when teams consistently try and stop us.
Pontypridd away will be a massive test and we need to concentrate on playing for the full 80 as appose to in patches like we hae be doing for the majority of the season.
Rowland
Llandovery v Neath
There was much soul-searching around the club last week following the defeat against Ebbw Vale, and in the end the players deserve praise for the way they reacted.
There was something of a hangover in the first half against Llandovery, but I felt momentum building just before the break.
We then showed more in the way of creativity, and the second period became our best half of the season. We experiment with our squad for the fixture and the players adapted well to changes.
Confidence returned to the side, and the assets that successful sides possess duly shone through.
I would like to thank the Neath supporters that made the trip to Llandovery. We were aware how dismayed you were by our performance against Ebbw Vale. That is why we needed to play well at Llandovery and we were pleased with our 2nd half performance.
However that is not to say there is still not work to do. We need to start playing for the full 80 and our next two tests at home will be a chance for us to start doing that.
Rowland
Neath v Ebbw Vale
I would like to apologise to our supporters for Saturday's performance against Ebbw Vale. We as a team are all feeling equally as disappointed with the performance and the boys are eager to put it right in our next league game on Saturday.
However Ebbw Vale were thoroughly deserving of their win, they put together a simple but effective game plan which seemed to stun our boys.
We need to reflect on the result and look forward, there are a lot of things that need to be put right and we need to be aware that Llandovery will also be a tough encounter. Their players will be very physical and I am expecting it to be a hard battle, especially away from home.
Every team playing Neath treat it as a cup final, & even go as far as measuring their season against their performances against us.
Our squad needs to adapt to this and learn quickly to be hungry. Teams will do whatever it takes to beat us which is a refection of our success really, that teams raise their game for their game against us. From now on we need to raise the bar for every league encounter, the pressure is on us to perform and it starts on Saturday.
Rowland
Neath v Glamorgan Wanderers
Obviously I was unable to make the game due to my welsh commitments but was there in spirit and I am very pleased that the boys dug deep on Saturday to secure a bonus point win.
After Pontypridd won at Llandovery they are hot on our heels for the top of the table spot but the boys are confident by putting right the errors made against the Wanderers that they can go to Maesteg and put in a good performance.
Due to the Fiji game the kick off time for Maesteg has been brought forward to 2pm allowing Neath fans to travel to the game and watch the crunch welsh match at the Ewenny Rd clubhouse.
For both games I call on your vocal support!
Rowland
