NEATH 43 RESOLVEN nil
Neath built on their 33-5 win over London Welsh with a 7-try win over neighbouring Resolven who battled gamely for most of the proceedings and who, in truth, deserved better than the final scoreline suggests.

The Blacks made an unprecedented 14 changes to their starting line-up with lock Rhys Morgan the only survivor as the coaches gave opportunities to the many youngsters who have trained hard with the Welsh All Blacks over the summer. Brothers Steff and Iestyn Jones figured alongside each other in the front row and Dan Guarneri led the side.

The Blacks started strongly and took the lead with a try from a scrum by No.8 David Griggs after 12 minutes but there was an understandable lack of cohesion early on.

Resolven then enjoyed a good spell with skipper Niki Reed and No.8 Ashley Morgan leading the charge and ex-Neath and Aberavon star Richard Carter bringing his centres Joe Healey and Darren Bowen into play; in fact, they might very well have taken the lead had they not been recalled for a forward pass.

As Neath warmed to their task, No.8 Griggs again showed that he knows his way to the try-line popping up to score his second try which acting-captain Dan Guarneri goaled and, when the Neath backs got outside the visiting defence, a good run by speedy wing Ben Griffin saw full back Callum Hall touch down and Guarneri added the extras with a splendid kick from wide out.

Resolven were not done though and pressed hard on the Neath line but lock Morgan executed a perfect steal, the danger was averted and a turnover won by flanker Jordan Coxley saw Neath move the ball speedily and Hall bagged his second try for 24-nil.

As the game wore on, Resolven tired and tested the patience of the referee but Neath began to dominate. Sion Summers lost the ball over the line before Ben Griffin raced over for a fine corner try which replacement full back Luke Griffiths goaled from the touchline.

With their young forwards asserting themselves, Neath were now well on top and good work by replacements Calim Bowen and Macauley Griffiths set up a second chance for the sharp Ben Griffin’s second try, Luke Griffiths repeating his touchline trick for the conversion points.

On the stroke of time, centre Matthew Pearce showed his strength to collect the seventh try but Jordan Rees inexplicably missed the conversion with a drop-kick to end a useful work-out for both clubs which provided good entertainment for another healthy crowd which would have been the envy of several Premiership clubs.

Neath now move on to their next challenge against Swansea on Thursday, August 29th (7.15pm).

Starting line-ups :-
NEATH – C.Hall; B.Griffin, W.Holley, Jarrad Rees, J.Roberts; D.Guarneri (capt), G.Workman; G.W.Lloyd, I.Jones, S.Jones; D.Millard, R.Morgan; J.Coxley, D.Griggs, B.Lukes
RESOLVEN – N.Davies; C.Sandry, J.Healey, D.Bowen, K.Jones; R.Carter, N.Murphy; R.Jones, N.Reed (capt), J.Dowley; R.Davies, S.Martin; D.Stokes, A.Morgan, C.Pearce

Referee – Mr. S.Edwards (Abercrave)

Photo courtesy of @ValleyBoyPics

MATCH PREVIEW:

It is virtually all change for Neath who continue their pre-season build up when they entertain Resolven at The Gnoll on Tuesday evening (kick off – 7.00pm).

Coaches Pat Horgan, Matthew Jones and Andrew Howell have named a much-changed side to take on the Neath Valley club as they seek to involve all the squad who have trained hard over the summer.

Amidst 14 starting changes, only player to retain his place is hard-working lock Rhys Morgan while two places are left vacant pending permit confirmations.

Outside-half Dan Guarneri will lead the team for the first time and Pat Horgan said, “Everybody was pleased to start off with Saturday’s 33-5 win over London Welsh although a lot more work is clearly needed to bring us up to the standards expected of Neath RFC.

“This is an important step in our build-up and Resolven are a well-coached side who will test our resolve and ambition at this early stage.”

Neath v Resolven (Home) 7.00pm
15 Callum Hall; 14 James Roberts, 13 Jarrad Rees, 12 Will Holley, 11 A.N.Other; 10 Dan Guarneri (captain), 9 Geraint Workman; 1 Gareth Wyn Lloyd, 2 Iestyn Jones, 3 Steffan Jones; 4 Dafydd Millard, 5 Rhys Morgan; 6 Jordan Coxley, 8 A.N.Other, 7 Ben Lukes
Replacements – TBC

NEATH 33 LONDON WELSH 5
Neath opened the 2019/20 season by resuming links with London Welsh and ran out deserved five tries to one winners in a highly entertaining game at The Gnoll.

A healthy crowd was present to see the two “fallen giants” stir again and launch the new campaign with Neath’s new-look team expected to be fully extended by London Welsh who have gone unbeaten over two successive League promotions since they struck their own particular difficulties.

An enthralling game ensued with the Blacks generally on top although the Exiles often looked dangerous and it took last-ditch efforts to keep the visitors out. It is early to draw conclusions but Neath’s strong set piece got even better as the game went on while the rapidity of midfield passing was impressive if not always accurate. A solid front five will grow in vigour and evidently Neath have options in the back-row and in midfield.

Neath started purposefully and right wing Luke Griffiths nearly got in at the corner. The Blacks got turned over twice early on but, after three line-outs and three scrums on the visitors’ line, No.8 Scott Malone dabbed down for a pushover try to open the scoring.

Good work wide out by back rowers Blackmore and Malone set up a maul on the Exiles’ line and hooker Sion Crocker crossed for the second try which Luke Griffiths converted and, on the half hour, the winger added the points to a try of his own after he caught a perfectly-placed cross lick by outside half Jordan Rees. Before the break, the Exiles came close following a kick and chase but Luke Griffiths just got back in time to minor and Neath went in leading 19-nil.

Neath turned around to attack the Union End and, seven minutes after the re-start, Neath scrum strength saw Malone get his second try, replacement Dan Guarneri goaling.

A flurry of replacements saw Neath lose momentum and the Exiles hit back with a deserved try of their own by centre Ben Phillips after the Blacks twice over-ambitiously tried to run the ball out from behind their own try-line – such foibles are all very well for summer warm-ups but they will hopefully not be seen once the League starts !

Amidst more replacements, David Griggs who quickly distinguished himself with a couple of strong carries stretched to touch down from a scrum and Guarneri converted. That concluded the scoring but there were chances at either end, Jarrad Rees and Guarneri earning plaudits for their cover tackles – the kind of defensive resolution Neath will need… and expect.

Unusually, the Neath team was “serenaded” off the pitch by their opponents whose rendition of “Bread of Heaven” was appreciated by all and it rounded off a useful first outing for the Blacks who will realise that one win does not a winter make.

Starting line-ups :-
NEATH – A.Bramwell (capt); L.Griffiths, B.Atkins, M.Pearce, S.Summers; J.Rees, M.Griffiths; I.James, S.Crocker, L.Tobias; R.Morgan, J.Barley; J.Blackmore, S.Malone, J.Hill
LONDON WELSH – R.Dawes; O.Neme, R.Howells, B.Phillips, R. Tudor-Davies; L.Davies, E.Staines; M.Griffiths, A.Evans, J.Ringer; T.Baldwin, J.Williams; G.Morgan (capt), A.Black, R.Pixley

Referee – Mr. B. Breakspear (Abercynon) replaced by Mr. A.Cox

Photo courtesy of Len Kowalski of www.lensworkphotography.co.uk

MATCH PREVIEW

Saturday is high noon for Neath who kick off the new season with an attractive home tie against London Welsh at The Gnoll on Saturday (kick off – midday).

Coaches Pat Horgan, Matthew Jones and Andrew Howell have named the side to take on the Exiles and it features many of those players who fought a backs to the wall mission last season when ownership woes derailed Neath’s season.

Two new wings figure in Luke Griffiths (Kenfig Hill) and South Wales Policeman Sion Summers who played for Newport last year. In the centre, there are welcome returns for Seven Sisters product Ben Atkins and Neath cricketer Matthew Pearce. The only newcomer in the pack will be at No.8 which is left vacant until the morning of the match.

Pat Horgan said, “We have had 30-40 players training regularly with us all summer and everyone has worked hard. We have another game against Resolven next Tuesday so we will have the opportunity to see most players in action over these two games.

“The boys are raring to go, itching for game action and it has been a question of holding some of them back a bit. Consolidation is the key but we hope we can challenge too as we need to get back to the high standards expected of Neath RFC.”

Neath v London Welsh (Home) 12 Noon
15 Aaron Bramwell; 14 Luke Griffiths, 13 Ben Atkins, 12 Matthew Pearce, 11 Sion Summers; 10 Jordan Rees, 9 Macauley Griffiths; 1 Ifan James, 2 Sion Crocker, 3 Liam Tobias; 4 Rhys Morgan, 5 Jon Barley; 6 Jacob Blackmore, 8 A.N. Other, 7 Jon Hill
Replacements TBC

LONDON WELSH LINE-UP AS FOLLOWS: