Due to WRU cup commitments seeing Aberavon RFC
having to postpone their game against Aberavon Green Stars last Friday to
celebrate their 125th season, Neath RFC magnanimously agreed to step in on the eve
of international fixture.
In wintry
conditions at their Little Warren ground, the Division 3 South West side played
their hearts out against the Premiership All Blacks, and neither side had
scored with just five minutes remaining of the first half.
Then, a
defensive error allowed Neath winger Bowdy Davies to take the ball at ankle
level to cross for their first try. Just before the referee blew for half time,
prop Lloyd Phillips crashed over for their second try. The conversion by
outside half Dean Cummings gave them a 0-12 interval lead.
Hooker
John Leyshon got their third try soon after the restart with another Cummings
conversion. Aberavon Green Stars' tenacity was rewarded after twenty minutes
when captain for the day Keiren Mattocks flipped out a neat pass to winger Karl
Meyers to score their only try which Mattocks then converted.
In the final quarter, the All Blacks’
Premiership quality and power came to the fore, and tries were scored by winger
Kevin James, flanker Leon Ward and Lloyd Phillips with try number two. Dean
Cummings put over two more conversions.
The Green
Stars squad included a mixture of young and old with Blake Parker and Carl
Leyshon both making their debut, while 51 year old John Wellington made his
presence felt for the last ten minutes of an entertaining game. Green Stars return
to league duties at Bryncoch on February 16th.
Thanks to Bernard Donovan for the report.
0 comments:
Post a Comment