CROSS KEYS 41 - NEATH 10
Cross Keys defeated a poor Neath side with a dominant display at
Pandy Park this afternoon. The Keys were in the mood for some champagne
rugby as Neath had no answer to Keys dominance all over the park.
The 25 minutes was scrappy to say the least with neither side able to
keep the ball for long enough for any effective play to develop, either
spilling the ball or being stopped by the referees whistle on a number
of occassions.
It took 29 minutes to break the deadlock with Keys outside half Dean
Gunter putting the home side ahead with a well struck penalty. Just 2
minutes after this Gunter added a further penalty to double Keys' lead,
it was a lead Keys would not surrender for the remainder of the game as
Keys went from strength to strength as the game went on.
Keys opening try was a fine individual effort from flying winger
Elliot Jones on 35 minutes, who raced away from the half way line and
the Welsh All Blacks defence to score in the corner. It was Jones'
second try in as many starts for the club, Gunter crept the conversion
over from the touchline. Neath responded with a try by centre Ryan Evans
with Keys Gerwyn Price sin-binned following a high tackle in the build
up to Evans' try, former Keys fly half Dai Langdon unsuccessful with the
touchline conversion. On the stroke of half time Luke Ford, against his
former side scored a brilliant try for Keys gathering his own precision
kick and bounce and scoring under the sticks, Gunter adding the simple extras.
Half time was Cross Keys 20 - Neath 5
It was in the second half that Keys really turned on the style in the
autumn sunshine. Following a number of Neath infringements on their own
line, referee Greg Morgan, who had a busy afternoon to say the least
had enough of the indiscipline and awarded Keys a penalty try in the
57th minuter, Gunter converting. Keys dominance continued and Luke
Williams showed great composure to score the bonus point try for Keys
after more good work from Luke Ford who broke free of the Neath defence
to feed the ball to Williams who in turn fed the ball back to Ford and
after a number of other passes the ball found its way back to Williams
who backed himself to score taking 3 defenders over the line with him,
Gunter adding his fourth conversion of the game. in the 71st minutes
Danny Hodge, who had earlier been sent to the bin went through totally
unopposed for his second try of the season, again Gunter was successful
with the conversion. Neath had the final say when replacement Alun Wyn
Davies crashed over with just 4 minutes of the 80 left, but by then it
was too little too late for the Welsh All Blacks.
Neath had Tom Morgan red carded for a swinging arm with around 5 minutes
to go, and also had 4 yellow cards with Keys picking two yellows for
Danny Hodge and Gerwyn Price
Final Score: Cross Keys 41 - Neath 10
Keys best performance of the season so far although they did come
up against a Neath side who are a shadow of their former dominant selves
at this level. An outstanding team performance for Keys with Luke Ford
chosen as the committee's man of the match although it could of been any
one of a number of Keys players.
Cross Keys Scorers:-
Tries: Elliot Jones, Luke Ford, Luke Williams, Danny Hodge and Penalty Try
Conversions: Dean Gunter (x5)
Penalties: Dean Gunter (x2)
Neath Scorers:-
Tries: Ryan Evans & Alun Wyn Davies
