Glamorgan Wanderers 37 Neath 49

Konica Minolta Cup Semi Final

Sunday 27th April 2008

Four-times winners Neath scored four tries in 15 minutes during the second half to account for Glamorgan Wanderers and set up a repeat of the 2006 final against Pontypridd.On that occasion a late drop-goal from fly-half Dai Flanagan carried Ponty to a shock 26-25 victory over the Blacks

Two years on, Neath will be looking to not only make amends in another classic east versus west showdown but also become the first semi-professional club to record a league and cup double.

Llanelli previously achieved the feat during the professional era back in 1993.

In the run-up to the semi-final the Blacks went through all the emotions following the spinal injury that scrum-half Gareth Jones suffered the previous Sunday at Cardiff.

While Jones remains critically ill in hospital, Neath went out to perform against Wanderers during an afternoon laden with grief for the stricken ex-Pontypridd player.

Now the two clubs that the 28-year-old scrum-half has represented at Premiership level will do battle in the Millennium Stadium final on May 17 (6pm).

It will be the 11th occasion for the Blacks to reach the final and the seventh for Ponty, who have lifted the cup three times.

Before then the clubs lock horns at The Gnoll on Friday evening in a league encounter that will provide some kind of indicator of what to expect next month.

Wanderers, who were appearing in their first semi-final, gave it their best shot but failed to cope with the fired-up Blacks.

Neath had already doubled the Ely side in the league, and the treble was achieved on the back of a rousing second-half pack display, with hooker Andrew Littlehales having a stormer.

But they could never shake off the Ely side who, on similar lines to the league game at the Memorial Ground in January, came late to score some dramatic tries.

Neath made a late change, drafting in Ospreys centre Jonathan Spratt, while Scarlets-bound scrum-half Martin Roberts formed one of six other changes in a side that lost last time out in Cardiff.

The Blacks got off to a now traditional slow start, leaking a try after just three minutes.

Wanderers took a quick line-out throw 10 metres short of the try-line and wing Gareth Morris charged over for a try that centre James Thomas goaled.

The Blacks hit back with a ninth-minute penalty from fly-half Arwel Thomas, but nearly conceded another try when a Spratt kick ahead was charged down.

But Neath constructed a good try in the 13th minute following sound approach play from wing Matthew Nuthall and No. 8 Lee Beach.

The ball was worked right, and a long pass freed wing Kevin James for a corner try that went unconverted.

But the Cardiff side made an immediate response when a 17th-minute attack was halted close to the goal line.

A ruck formed and the ball shot out for full-back James Loxton to cross for an unconverted try.

Wanderers increased the lead to 15-8 in the 25th minute but a minute later Neath collected a second try.

A break from outstanding centre Spratt was taken on by captain Beach, leading to hooker Andrew Littlehales releasing wing James for another unconverted try.

The Blacks retook the lead in the 36th minute after prolonged attacking, with Roberts registering a drop-goal that went over after striking the right-hand post.

Neath led 16-15 at the break, and hit the Cardiff side on the restart with a move that stemmed from the halfway line.

Although a pass out to wing Matthew Nuthall looked to have gone forward, play was allowed to continue and Nuthall crossed for a try that Arwel Thomas converted.

Soon after a second penalty from centre Thomas pulled Wanderers back to 23-18, but they had replacement flanker Craig Morris binned on 49 minutes.

Neath made hay during his absence and after flanker James Merriman knocked on with the try-line at his mercy, Beach did manage to touch down.

Arwel Thomas converted and on the hour slick hands led to Merriman getting the fifth Neath try, making it 35-18.

Wanderers retaliated with a try from ex-Aberavon centre Aled James, but in the 64th minute the Blacks forged further ahead.

Full-back Gareth King was worked over for a try that Arwel Thomas improved on, and in the 70th minute it was the turn of replacement flanker Andrew Llewellyn to touch down.

Thomas nailed a fourth conversion, increasing the lead to 49-23, only for Neath to have replacement prop Craig Mitchell yellow-carded for a late challenge.

Never-say-die Wanderers refused to lie down and hit back with a try from flanker Sam Warburton that centre Thomas goaled.

And in the final move of a pulsating second half, Wanderers No. 8 Richard Thomas got his side's fifth try, with centre Thomas converting.