Prem Review - 26th April


By Zippy
April 28 2006

Review of the action in the Welsh Premiership on Wednesday evening. Bridgend lost to Neath at the Gnoll and the league with it, Ponty sent a young side to Llanelli which put up a fight before losing. For details read on.

Neath 40 Bridgend 19

From the BBC

Neath won the Principality Building Society Welsh Premiership title for the second successive season after beating nearest rivals 40-19 Bridgend.

The Welsh All Blacks led 24-14 at the break after two tries from Hywel Jenkins and one from Craig Mitchell.

Bridgend closed the gap to just five points at The Gnoll when Richard Radford scored shortly after the break.

But two James Hook penalties, and further tries from Wayne Mitchell and Ben Davies took Neath clear again.

Neath have won all but one of their league games this season, and win the title with four games to spare.

They will face Pontypridd - the only side to beat them this season - in the Konica Minolta Cup on Saturday, 6 May.

  • Neath coach Rowland Phillips:
    "You set standards, and if you're proud people like the players are, you want to live up to those standards and move on.

    "We've got a blend of youth and experience which seems to be spot on at the moment.

    "We've got a lot of exciting talent coming through and we're proud of that. We've developing talent to go up to the regional game and that's exactly what we're about."

    Neath: Clapham, Johnston, G. Morris, W. Mitchell, S. Thomas, Hook, Roberts, P. Jones, Littlehales, C. Mitchell, Martin, Morgan, B. Davies, Jenkins, McPhail.
    Replacements: G. James, A. Thomas, Pengelly, Llewellyn, McShane, Price, Howell.

    Bridgend: M. Hutchings, Howells, R. Davies, Tossell, Radford, M. David, Griffiths, Voisey, Joy, Long, Alford, Evans, G. Williams, A. Williams, Whitney.
    Replacements: Hearne, A. Phillips, G. Alexander, Purnell, P. Williams, Trowbridge, Roach.

    Ref: Neil Ballard (WRFU).

    • Neath 40 - 19
    (24 - 14)    		 Bridgend
    Tries:
    H Jenkins 2, C Mitchell, W Mitchell, B Davies    		   Tries:
    A Whitney, M Hutchings, R Radford
    Pens:
    J Hook 3    		  
     
    Cons:
    J Hook 3    		   Cons:
    M Hutchings 2

    Llanelli 18 Pontypridd 13

    By http://www.PontypriddRFC.co.uk - Rygbi Pontypridd - Official Website / Y Wefan Swyddogol - The Valleys' Premier Team.

    Ponty made early advances into the home half, but Llanelli showing their intent with a counter offensive at pace from within their own twenty-two, and rounded off with a penalty kicked by their outside half Craig Evans. Ponty in turn put together some effective phases of support play, full back Morgan Stoddart breaking the gain line, allowing his team to set up camp in the home half. A speculative kick and chase attack up the flank by Ponty almost produced a score for flanker Ben Rose, but a long period of pressure by the valleys team going unrewarded.

    The game was now for long periods a dogfight for possession, with little fluidity. A series of short range charges by Ponty set up a position for Richard Langmead to drill over a penalty, levelling the scores 3 pts apiece with nineteen minutes gone. Ponty were just edging the battle for possession, with debutant lock Damien Welsh claiming good line out ball, but the team failing to make real inroads into home territory. With errors being committed, Ponty back tracked to their own twenty-two, and had hooker Ben Phillips sin binned for blocking a quick tap penalty. Aaron Fowler now came on for scrum duties in place of Ben Rose, as Ponty soaked up a significant amount of pressure. A break from Morgan Stoddart and an interception from Chris Clayton provided some brief respite, but Llanelli overall well in the ascendancy.

    Ponty were holding out doggedly in defence, with Morgan Stoddart always a creative force on the counter attack, but the game played out exclusively in the visitors’ half. Into injury time, Llanelli launched a foray down the flank, rounded off with a try out wide for winger Daniel Gravell, hoisting the home team into an interval lead of 8 pts to 3.

    Ponty grappled effectively for possession as the second half commenced, but rarely threatening the home line, lacking any real structure to their attacks. A lengthy period spent camped out in the Llanelli half came to nothing with nil points scored. With Ian Poley now on for Ryan Harford, Ponty conceded ground, soaking up a significant amount of pressure, and Llanelli taking full advantage as full back Darren Daniel cut through for a try which was converted by Craig Evans. The home team continued to hold all the aces in attack, as Lee Evans came on for Ben Rose, followed by Matthew Nuthall in place of Darren Berry. Ponty were gamely attempting to set up an attacking platform, but struggling in scrum and line out and failing to threaten.

    The visitors continued to ring the changes, as Chris Dicomidis came on for Damien Welsh, with Ponty spurning kicks at goal to advance down the flanks. Having expended all their efforts in attack, Ponty were once more put under pressure, and Llanelli gaining a points reward as fly half Evans hoisted over a penalty, with sixty-six minutes gone. Dafydd Lockyer was next off the bench in place of Richard Langmead, with Ponty chasing the game, but their attacking edge still looking decidedly blunt. The long range penalty kicks of Matthew Nuthall at least gave Ponty the means to advance, and pressure finally telling as Lockyer made a bold midfield break, industrious no 8 Adam Powell up in support to claim a try which Paul Matthews converted.

    With seven minutes remaining Ponty upped the tempo in going all out for a crucial score. Aaron Fowler was back on in place of Ben Phillips, Ponty enjoying a spate of pressure, and harvesting points as Paul Matthews slotted over a penalty. Llanelli responded with a foray upfield, but Craig Evans pulling wide a drop goal attempt. Into injury time, Ponty again threw everything into attack, taking scrum ball against the head and driving into the home twenty-two, only for a knock on to foil their last ditch attempt to save the game. The final whistle blew to give Llanelli a win by 18 pts to 13, throwing open the battle for third spot in the premiership table.

    Pontypridd:

    15.Morgan Stoddart  14.Chris Clayton  13.Gavin Dacey  12.Paul Matthews – cpt  11.Darren Berry (Matthew Nuthall) 10.Richard Langmead (Dafydd Lockyer) 9.Tom Dickens

    1.Gerald Cox  2.Ben Phillips (Aaron Fowler) 3.Ryan Harford (Ian Poley) 4.Damien Welsh  (Chris Dicomidis) 5.Grant Harrington  6.Wayne O’Connor  7.Ben Rose (Aaron Fowler temp/ Lee Evans) 8.Adam Powell

    Llanelli 18 - 13
    (8 - 3)    		 Pontypridd
    Tries:
    D Gravell, D Daniels    		   Tries:
    A Powell
    Pens:
    G Evans 2    		   Pens:
    R Langmead, P Matthews
     
    Cons:
    G Evans    		   Cons:
    P Matthews

    Principality Building Society Premiership Table
    26 April 2006

      Team
    P
    W
    D
    L
    F
    A
    PTS
    1 Neath 26 25 0 1 882 352 75
    2 Bridgend 29 23 0 6 685 552 69
    3 Pontypridd 27 18 0 9 691 492 54
    4 Aberavon 27 18 0 9 693 522 54
    5 Llanelli 28 18 0 10 558 558 54
    6 Newport 27 16 0 11 542 561 48
    7 Swansea 27 14 0 13 710 638 42
    8 Cross Keys 29 12 0 17 503 573 36
    9 Bedwas 27 11 2 14 485 543 35
    10 Glamorgan Wanderers 29 10 2 17 573 701 32
    11 Cardiff 28 10 0 18 591 690 30
    12 Llandovery 28 9 0 19 562 642 27
    13 Ebbw Vale 27 8 1 18 503 626 25
    14 Maesteg 27 8 1 18 508 678 25
    15 Carmarthen 27 8 1 18 483 709 25
    16 Pontypool 27 7 3 17 413 545 24