Neath advanced into the WRU Premiership Cup semi-finals on try-count after an exciting, hard-fought encounter at Mount Pleasant Park which literally went down to the last kick. Unbeaten Beddau who had won at The Gnoll with a final kick penalty only a fortnight before
put their marvellous record on the line in front of a healthy crowd on a blustery afternoon.

Noticeably high on the confidence borne of that fine record, the home side made the most of wind advantage to rattle up a 17-nil lead through tries by hooker Ethan Coombes and prop Travis Green. Scrum-half Callaghan Smith converted both, judging the cross-wind superbly for
the second, and after Neath had squandered three good attacking positions, he then added a penalty on 20 minutes.

But in a month in which they have led for about five minutes (four at Llangennech and one at Bargoed) over four games, Neath have grown used to handling deficits. That of itself is no great boast but the All Blacks set about retrieving the situation.

On the half hour, good driving play by the forwards built up a head of steam. They sucked in the defence and a super pass by centre Sam Harris freed winger Morgan Meaclem who scored wide out – it was Neath’s 50th try of the season and made it 17-5.

The All Blacks got more into the game with some fine work by the back row of Casey Williams, Ben Williams and young Sam Morgan who all played a hard game and good continuity-play culminated in Sam Harris crossing at the posts for outside-half Paul Short to convert and it
was 17-12.

Half-time – Beddau 17 points Neath 12 points

With wind advantage, Neath threw everything at Beddau in the second-half but somehow the well-drilled home side kept them out as they tested the patience of referee Mr. Keith David who demonstrated calm authority throughout.

Paul Short’s exemplary line-kicking kept Neath on the attack and rarely can Neath have so dominated a half without commensurate impact on the scoreboard. As sieges go, one almost expected a wooden horse of the Trojan variety to pop up and, while Neath could not be
accused of attacking efficiency, it is a testimony to Beddau’s resolution and determination that they kept Neath out.

Generations of All Blacks’ supporters have long admired such tenacious qualities and Neath showed their own team spirit in sticking to their guns although coach Tim Ryan will not have been happy with Neath’s profligacy in attacking positions as the visitors were held up on the line, knocked on or lost the ball just short of it.

With the number of attacking line-outs rocketing into double-figures, eventually the Neath blockade had to tell and try-hungry Sion Jones burrowed over for Neath’s third try to level the scores.

It was the hooker’s 10th try of the season which puts him firmly among Neath’s quickest forwards ever to reach double-figures. Paul Short’s conversion unluckily rebounded off a post and it remained all-square at 17-17 but with Neath ahead on tries.

Both full backs Cody Baker and Owen Erasmus showed positive counter-attacking intent while the midfield play of both teams often threatened so the game remained in the balance. Generally though, it was a day for kicking for position and, despite experienced scrum-half
Lewis Jones exhorting the home forwards to maul themselves out of trouble, Beddau could not break out.

Neath maintained their second-half stranglehold but, as the final whistle beckoned, they conceded possession near the Beddau line and the home backs threw caution to the wind to free winger Evan Anderson. A penalty gave them the chance to enter Neath’s 22 for the first
time in the half and, as the forwards drove strongly for glory, Neath transgressed. Would Neath pay for their failure to nail their opportunities ? Certainly, the goal was eminently kickable but – unlike at The Gnoll a fortnight before – this time fortune favoured
the All Blacks, the Beddau supporters did not go Wilde as the kick sailed wide and Neath were through … just !

BEDDAU – C Baker; E Roberts, A Ashford (T Wells), S Gardner, J Davies; C Wheeler (O Wilde); C Smith (L
Jones); S Bixby (Lloyd James), E Coombes (J Page), T Green (Gwilym Powell); L Evans (capt), D Perry; S
Tiley, E Evans (H Barnes), L Rogers (S Gibson)

NEATH – O Erasmus; I Morgan (J Bayliss), E Bolche, S Harris, M Meaclem; P Short, C Tantum (J Daniel);
M Morgan (O Watts), S Jones, M Lovell (T Dabeh); J Barley, M Davies; C Williams (S Lewis), B Williams, S
Morgan (Repl. A Davies, K Jones, J Hughes)

Referee – Mr K David (Bridgend)

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

* Next week it is back to the league and Neath clash with leaders Pontypridd at The Gnoll
(kick off 2.30pm) with a big crowd expected.