Match Report

Neath 11 - Glamorgan Wanderers 16

The Gnoll, Sat 16th Jan 10 KO: 14.30

Neath 11
Glamorgan Wanderers 16

THERE'S something about Neath exits from the Swalec Cup that court controversy.
Three seasons ago during their last cup defeat - a 12-10 home loss against eventual runners-up Cardiff - passions also ran high.
On that occasion a controversial late winning try from Cardiff full-back Jamie Roberts - who has gone on to represent the Blues, Wales and British Lions - led to then Neath coach Rowland Phillips getting hot under the collar.
Phillips felt if the try-scoring pass wasn't forward; Roberts had avoided putting a foot in touch and grounded the ball properly it would have been a cracking winner.
But the only humour attached to the latest cup exit against Glamorgan Wanderers - dubbed "O'Leary's shoulder" - came from one of their rub-a-dub men doing an impersonation of coach Richard Hodges.
After Wanderers found touch in the 14th minute, the Hodges lookalike, standing close to the dugout, kicked the ball away from Neath wing Kristian Phillips, who was attempting to take a quick throw in.
Ironically, the guy shot himself in the foot, as young Phillips had the last laugh with the delayed lineout resulting in Neath getting their only try of the tie.
But that incident paled into insignificance once the Cardiff side called passive scrums in the 83rd minute after their scrum creaked more than ever during time added on for stoppages.
Having given second best at both lineouts and strategic kicking while securing parity in the loose, Neath held all the aces at the scrums.
They consistently got a nudge on the Cardiff side's scrum, and that was the case late on.
Twice referee Simon Harris prevented Neath walking Wanderers over the tryline with moving scrums being halted by the Port Talbot official, who also turned down penalty try claims.
But Wanderers had already used their only prop replacement in the 34th minute - Danny Douthwaite taking the place of broken-nose victim Nathan Trevett.
So, that meant when Mark O'Leary collapsed with a shoulder injury, the Ely men called uncontested scrums.
This didn't go down well with home fans or management, who felt O'Leary, should have played on.
As it turned out there was only time for one passive scrum, and Wanderers clung to place this victory alongside the 26-0 league success last time out at Cardiff on Boxing Day.
Incredibly, in 20 seasons of Welsh Leagues, this formed the first occasion for the City Slickers to get zilch points at home.
Neath head coach Patrick Horgan was unhappy with the situation and pointed to a previous incident in which Wanderers had called on passive scrums during a key moment.
"During my time as Ebbw Vale coach, Wanderers did a similar thing, and I could see it coming this time around," fumed Horgan.
"I don't mind losing a game fair and square, but to my mind Glamorgan Wanderers showed their true colours.''
However, Neath failed to find the form that saw them card four out of five league victories during a run of festive home games.
That jettisoned them to the top, but against Wanderers they faced stubborn resistance.
The Cardiff side laid out their stall in defence and try as they might, the Blacks failed to break them down.
Wanderers fly-half Scott Sneddon and opposite number Gareth McCarthy landed early penalties while Wales U-20 wing Kristian Phillips got the Neath try after a quarter of an hour.
But Neath then conceded a sucker try to centre Simon Rosser converted by Sneddon, who also struck another penalty.
Wanderers led 13-8 at the break and in the 45th minute, the Blacks had a try from captain and scrum-half Kevin Farrell ruled out.
A penalty from Neath replacement fly-half Arwel Thomas reduced arrears until Sneddon completed a penalty hat-trick on 73 minutes.
Though the cup holders applied late pressure, Wanderers repeated a famous 12-9 cup win at the ground back in 1986.
Ironically, if O'Leary had lasted for one more scrum then all this bad feeling would have been avoided.
If Neath had failed to get a winning score, then most Neath folk would have shook hands and congratulated Wanderers on a job well done.
Back in October when Wanderers took the league game over the Blacks in Ely, Neath were gracious in defeat - and that's always been the case.
But instead the tie will be forever recalled as "O'Leary's shoulder."
Next opponents at The Gnoll on February 6 are Glamorgan Wanderers.........hm.

Match stats

Neath: Try: K. Phillips; Pens: G. McCarthy, A. Thomas

Team: A. Jenkins; K. James, N. Brew, S. Thomas, K. Phillips; G. McCarthy (repl A. Thomas 57 mins), K. Farrell (capt); N. Downs, G. Price (repl A. James 69), M. Jones, E. Evans, P. Sidoli (repl M. Collins 69), L. Evans, J. Bowd, A. Whitney (repl G. Gravell 57)

Glam Wands: Try: S. Rosser; Con: S. Sneddon; Pens: S. Sneddon (3)

Team: D. Fish; R. Budina, S. Rosser, C. Johnson, S. Cullen; S. Sneddon, R. Dyer (repl L. Williams 57); N. Trevett (repl D. Douthwaite 34), I. Dobbs (capt) (repl I. Davies 63), M. O'Leary (repl I. Dobbs 80+3), J. Barley (repl A. Luff 45), G. Knight, B. Rose (repl L. Highgate 63), C. Kimber, J. Navidi (repl M. Al-Azzawi 66)

Referee: Simon Harris (Taibach, Port Talbot)

Neath star choice: Euros Evans