By The Webmaster
November 19 2002

WING Gareth Morris scored two of Neath's five tries as the Welsh All Blacks gained their second win in the Welsh Premier League. (The Western Mail)

WING Gareth Morris scored two of Neath's five tries as the Welsh All Blacks gained their second win in the Welsh Premier League.

This was Neath's seventh successive win over Vale in the Welsh or Celtic League.

Neath failed to score in the second half after leading 34-0 at the interval.

The final score nearly matched their 34-7 home win over the Gwent club in the Celtic League in September. Morris then scored three of their five tries.

Vale coach Mike Ruddock said, "We kicked the ball away far too much in the first half.

"When we kept it and moved it well in the second half, we were a different team.

"But all credit to Neath for their victory."

Vale outside-half Mark Meenan was disallowed a try in the 76th minute. But referee Huw Watkins, of Cadoxton, Neath, said later he had apologised to the player and to Rud-dock.

"From the angle I saw it I thought Meenan had knocked on, but I realised later that this was not so," said Watkins.

Neath will ponder how they failed to score in the second half for they had the chances yet let them slip away.

Neath's dominance was emphasised in that Ebbw Vale did not get into the home 22 with a concerted attack until the first minute of the second period.

Ten minutes into the half Vale's outstanding No 8 Kati Tuipulotu surged over for a try.

Meenan, coming straight out of a sin-bin converted.

Wing Rhys Shorney scored Vale's second try after 72 minutes as he executed a delicate balancing act to keep away from the touchline.

They are too wise at Pontypridd to read too much into this Neath performance before the All Blacks go to Sardis Road for their Celtic League quarter-final on Friday week.

Neath were without at least five players through injury and gave youngsters their chance.

Lock Lyndon Bateman lived up to everything which coach Lyn Jones had said of him before the match.

Bateman, aged 23, was making his first competitive start for Neath and slotted in well with the outstanding Andrew Newman.

There was a special cheer for acting skipper Rowland Phillips, aged 37, the former Wales rugby league and union international who cast aside the years to produce a typically solid display.

Former Vale skipper Kingsley Jones, on permit from Pontypridd, returned to the pack but had heavy defence duties before giving way to Paul Williams in the final quarter.

The Ebbw Vale back row were fully stretched in their first half as Neath's half-backs, Andy Moore and former Ebbw Vale outside-half Shaun Connor found the gaps.

Ebbw Vale will put this down as a bad night at the office.

But they knew the task ahead of them - they have won only twice in 10 league matches at the Gnoll.

Away from league pressures, Neath will be away next Thursday night for a friendly at Newcastle Emlyn who are coached by former Neath skipper Kevin Phillips.