Jarvis ensures Neath gain home advantage
Pontypridd 12Neath 13
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The former Pontypridd player Lee Jarvis came back to haunt his old side as Neath secured a home semi-final in the Celtic League at Sardis Road last night.
Jarvis, a second-half replacement, kicked two pressure penalty goals in a dour match to give the Welsh All Blacks a one-point victory and home advantage against the winners of today's match between Edinburgh and Cardiff.
"The fact we haven't played a serious game in five weeks showed tonight," the Neath captain, Gareth Llewellyn, said after his side inflicted Pontypridd's first home defeat of the season. "To get the win is just brilliant. It's great to get a home semi-final."
Neath had by far the better of the first half and must have been stunned that they were 9-7 down at the turn around.
Three Neil Jenkins penalty goals kept Pontypridd in front, but Neath had the majority of the possession and territory and would have been cursing their inability to finish off the chances provided by the power play of their prop Duncan Jones and their flanker Hywel Jenkins.
Neath had so much of the play, they turned down opportunities at goal in the 23rd and 24th minutes, opting to go for the seven-pointer. Referee Iain Ramage obliged the visitors when he awarded a penalty try after a Neath rolling maul was brought down near the line.
The referee was forgiven when he allowed Pontypridd's wing Emyr Lewis to stay on the park after a blatant high tackle just before the break.
The superb scavanging and defensive work of the dreadlocked Wales flanker Richard Parks kept his side in front. Jenkins was given another chance midway through the second stanza and the man who has scored 1,049 points in Tests made no mistake.
The tension was heightened when Jarvis slotted a penalty after 73 minutes to narrow the gap to two points. And then Parks went from hero to zero when he was adjudged offside from a lineout on his 22 metre line and Jarvis made no mistake with the kick.
Pontypridd: Penalties Jenkins 4. Neath: Try Penalty; Conversion Connor; Penalties Jarvis 2.
Pontypridd: B Davey, G Wyatt, J Lewis, J Bryant, E Lewis, N Jenkins, G Baber, G Jenkins, M Davies, D Bell, D McIntosh, R Sidoli, N Kelly, R Parks, M Owen. Replacements: P John, C Sweeney, S James, M Rees, B Hennessey, B Cockbain, G Lewis.
Neath: A Durston, G Morris, J Storey, D Tiueti, S Williams, S Connor, A Moore, D Jones, B Williams, A Jones, A Newman, G Llewellyn, H Jenkins, B Sinkinson, N Bonner-Evans. Replacements: A Bateman, L Jarvis, N Tandy, S Jones, A Bateman, A Mocelutu, A Millward.
Referee: I Ramage (Scotland)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments