Monday 25 February 2013

Neath continue fine form in Principality Premiership

Neath continued their remarkable turnaround in form by battling back from a 12-point deficit at the Brewery Field on Saturday (February 23) to see off local rivals Bridgend 22-18.

Wing Rhys Ward Jones opened the score for the hosts by finishing off a superb backs move, but for all their possession, they only led 5-3 at the quarter mark as Neath made use of one foray into opposition territory for Dean Cummins to fire over a penalty.

Before the interval, the Ravens were awarded  a penalty try by referee Martyn Williams when they drove the Neath scrum back over their own try line.

The Welsh All Blacks came out with their team-talk ringing in their ears after the break, and following a number of forwards surges, Roy Jones barged over. Lee Davies and Tom Morgan were yellow-carded and the Neath recovery was definitely on with first, Lee Evans driving over, before they were awarded the match’s second penalty try as the Ravens illegally stopped a rolling maul on their try line.

Pontypridd stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership to seven points but had to rally to overcome a spirited Newport at Sardis Road on Friday night (February 22).

The hosts led for most of this encounter  until the 77th minute, but two late converted tries gave Ponty a 32-24 success, securing a bonus point in the process.

Chris Dicomidis, Wayne O’Connor, Matthew Nuthall and Dan Godfrey crossed the whitewash for Ponty, with Dai Flanagan contributing the rest of the points with the boot.

Second-placed Bedwas lost ground in the battle for the top when they went down13-8 at home to Cross Keys on the same evening in almost arctic conditions at the Bridge Field. The visitors are now only a point behind their victims in third spot.

Ryan James bagged Keys’ only try in the first period, which was converted by Dean Gunter, before he was sin binned towards the end of the first half. Despite this, Bedwas didn’t take hold and their numerical advantage was wasted.

Dorian Jones put over two penalties either side of a Lewis Robling effort in the second half, while a late Scott Williams touchdown gave Bedwas a losing bonus point in a much better second half showing, although the match was riddled with handling errors from both sides.

In the other game, Carmarthen Quins beat Swansea for the fourth time this season; winning 23-8 after leading just 6-5 at the break. Swansea finished with only 13 men after the late dismissals of David Blyth and Ieuan Dobbs.

A penalty try and a Rheon James touchdown earned the Quins 10 points, with Chris Banfield’s boot doing the rest. Jamie Thomas crossed in the first minute for Swansea.

In the Championship, only game survived the weather, but Narberth will wish it hadn’t after going down 61-9 at Tata Steel.

The hosts ran in nine tries in total, with Simon Evans and Stuart Edbrook running in a brace each. Gareth Edwards, Lloyd Elliot, Ricky Thomas, Cameron Davies and Gareth Walter also crossed, with Walter also converting five of them and kicking two penalties.

James Russell kicked three penalties for the visitors, who missed the chance to close the gap on Cardiff Met in third place, having now played a game more than them and fourth-placed Newbridge.

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