Welsh Premiership Round 4 - Thursday 26th December

The Raven's got off to a perfect start, when Nigel William's awarded them a penalty try in the opening minutes, Caerphilly being excused of bringing down a maul just metres from their line. A Justin Thomas penalty reduced the deficit, but unfortunately for the cheese men this would be their only score.

The rest of the match was one way traffic, in the direction of the Caerphilly try line. Bridge Full Back Gareth Cull profiting from this, the man of the match on Friday night against Newport touched down in the corner to score and then converted it himself, to make 17-3.

Although Caerphilly fought back, they could never convert their possession into points. And when Cull added to his tally with another penalty, the match was as good as won.

Further tries from impressive Tongan winger Aisea Havili, prop Chris Horsman, centre David Bishop and flanker Maama Molitika rubbed salt into the wounds of Mark Ring's side.


 

Ebbw fresh from a famous victory over Llanelli on Saturday, put in another performance full of commitment, but fell away as the home side upped the tempo.

The Blue and Blacks, much changed from their muddy defeat at Sardis Road, looked uninterested for long periods of the match. Silly errors and a poor scrummaging display meant most of the time they're backs took the ball standing still.

Only a try from skipper Martyn Williams separated the sides at half time, the flanker collecting an off load from centre Matt Allen, who had taken a pass from Full Back Donavan Van Vuuren, the South African taken advantage of a gap in the Ebbw defence on the half way line.

Two penalties from scrum half Bryan Shelbourne, put the match in the balance, only for Cardiff's Nicky Robinson to cancel both out, with  penalties of his own, to make it 13-6.

Matt Allen linked yet again, this time with Nick Walne crashing over to take the game away from the Steel men's reach. Walne grabbed another, before Zimbabwean Dean Dewdney, who spent most of last season on loan at Neath completing the drubbing, bursting through under the post's.

 

The Scarlets were far from spectacular in a work man like display against a struggling Black & Amber side.

Shocking defence allowed Garan Evans to pick up, after a kick from inside the home sides 22 ended up in the deserted 22 of Newport's half, the winger gladly accepted the open invitation to touch down.

All that after Mark Jones completed a length of the pitch move to score in the corner. An Early penalty from Stephen Jones gave Llanelli an early lead, thanks to the two tries they were cruising at half time 17-6, Port's points coming from the boot of Jason Strange.

The Gwent side kept fighting, something taken all too literally by certain members of their side, number 8 Steve Ojomoh guilty of several high tackles, and substitute Andy Powell was adjudged to have hit out, and was sin binned.

Canuck prop Rod Snow put the score line within a try, but Stephen Jones kicked a penalty to make it comfortable for last years champions.
 

On Friday night Neath will be looking to avenge last season's cruel defeat at St.Helen's, which denied them they're first title in 6 season's. The White's however will still have memories of this season's home 20-16 defeat in the Celtic League. Expect fireworks.

The match is being shown on BBC 2W at five past seven, keep up to date with all the build up on the Neath site.