Lee Jarvis supplied 21 points as Neath tamed neighbours Swansea in sub-zero
temperatures at The Gnoll.
Alfie Mocelutu and Shane Williams also crossed for tries to cap a fired-up
home performance in front of a crowd of around 6,000 and take Neath to third in
the Welsh-Scottish League.
Fiji international Mocelutu, who had a strong game in the Neath back row,
powered over from a short-range line-out early in the second half.
As Swansea struggled to hold the rampant home pack, Williams crossed after
excellent work from Jarvis, Allan Bateman and Kevin James.
Swansea replied with five Arwel Thomas penalties but were unable to seriously
threaten the Neath line.
The scores were tied at 9-9 at the half-time break, but Neath had been far the
better side.
With hooker Barry Williams leading the charge they forced Swansea to
back-pedal and rely on impressive defence to keep their line intact.
But Swansea gave away penalties freely and paid the price as Jarvis notched a
hat-trick to fire his side into a 9-0 lead.
Swansea gradually began to up the pace, encouraged by some hard hits in
midfield from skipper Scott Gibbs.
As Neath found themselves going backwards, Thomas completed his own quick-fire
penalty treble for the visitors.
The Welsh All Blacks' cause was not helped when they lost hooker Williams with
a leg injury just before the break, but they came through strongly in the second
half.
Jarvis, the leading scorer in Welsh rugby this season, finished with five
penalties and two drop-goals.
Teams:
Neath: Morris, K. James, A. Bateman, Storey, S. Williams,
Jarvis, A. Moore, D. Jones, B. Williams, Millward, Martin,
Llewellyn, Mocelutu, Bonner-Evans, Sinkinson.
Not Used: Horgan, Connor, S. Jones, Francis, P. James,
R. Phillips, Howells.
Tries: S. Williams, Mocelutu.
Pens: Jarvis 5.
Drop Goals: Jarvis 2.
Swansea: Pens: A. Thomas 5. Swansea: K. Morgan, Rees, Gibbs, Winn, Payne, A. Thomas,
R. Jones, Morris, Hawkins, Evans, Griffiths, Charvis, L. Jones,
D. Thomas, A. Moore.
Not Used: Martens, Henson, Lima, Mason, Le Chavalier, Bater,
Lewis.
Att: 6,000
Ref: Robert G Davies (RFU).
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