Neath snatch title on try count

Neath 45 Pontypridd 25

Just five minutes of the longest season remained when Steve Williams scored the critical seventh try which gave Neath, the Welsh league's inaugural champions five years ago, maximum points and the title on try-count in a sensational match at The Gnoll last night besmirched by Steele Lewis's dismissal.

The destination of the Heineken trophy depended as much on the respective performances of Pontypridd and Llanelli as on those of the two contenders and there was never any doubt - despite pre-match assertions from the Cardiff camp - that Ponty would give Neath endless trouble.

In any case there was no certainty about a Neath victory, let alone the necessary accumulation of bonus points, Pontypridd having already beaten them twice this season including most recently in the Swalec Cup final.

It was no great surprise, then, that Neath, in their desperation to score at one end, left holes at the other and a hush came over the big and expectant crowd when Pontypridd scored the first try. A series of smashing forward drives ended with Steele Lewis breaching the home defence.

Neath continued to look vulnerable in defence, though three times David Manley was hauled down from behind when he appeared to have been put clear. But in attack they were more impressive and the shock provided by the Lewis try galvanised them into a strong response.

Pontypridd failed to pay attention when Neath were awarded a penalty and the quick-thinking Chris Bridges created a try for Ian Boobyer. Moments later, a rolling maul started and finished by John Davies brought a second and the frenetic action carried on when Ponty swarmed up the touchline for a try by Greg Prosser.

Williams' scrum pick-up gave Bridges Neath's next try which, with Bridges' three conversions to Jenkins' none, provided a decent cushion. But Jenkins kicked a penalty at the start of the second half and when he converted Jason Lewis's try the margin was reduced to one.

Neath again roused themselves with tries by Chris Higgs and Patrick Horgan, who had replaced Bridges, to gain a second bonus and with two tries still required in 13 minutes Pontypridd were reduced to 14 men when Steele Lewis was dismissed for butting Boobyer, who was pinned on the floor under him.

This was all the assistance Neath needed. First Huw Woodland went under the posts and then, with five minutes left, Gareth Llewellyn marked his final game before joining Harlequins by making the break for Williams' rapturous conclusive try - after which Jenkins' try for Pontypridd simply did not matter.

Neath: Tries Boobyer, J Davies, Bridges, Higgs, Horgan, Woodland, S Williams; Conversions Bridges 3, Horgan 2. Pontypridd: Tries S Lewis, Prosser, J Lewis, Jenkins; Conversion Jenkins; Penalty Jenkins.

Neath: D Case; C Higgs, L Davies, H Woodland, R Wintle; G Evans, C Bridges (P Horgan, 56); L Gerrard, B Williams, J Davies, Glyn Llewellyn, Gareth Llewellyn (capt), A Kembery, S Williams, I Boobyer.

Pontypridd: C Cormack; D Manley, S Lewis, J Lewis (G Jones, 79), S Enoch; N Jenkins, N Lloyd; N Bezani (capt; N Eynon, 67), P John, A Metcalfe, G Prosser, M Rowley, M Spiller (R Collins, 40), M Lloyd, M Williams.

Referee: D Davies (Llanbradach).