Bridgend were crowned Welsh champions as they beat Neath 22-13 at the Brewery Field to claim their first title in over 20 years.
The Ravens avenged a recent defeat against Neath – their only loss of the campaign – to take them eight-points clear at the top of the table, with 39 points from fourteen games played.
And the 3000 elated fans would have been pleased to hear Nigel Williams’ final whistle as Neath threatened to snatch the game with a series of late chances that would have kept the title race alive.
Neath opened the scoring with a Shaun Connor penalty goal. Bridgend hit back through a Sililo Martens try after a Neath clearance was charged down.
A second Connor penalty goal put the visitors back in front 6-5, and Bridgend suffered a further blow when try-scorer Martens was yellow-carded. Despite their one-man advantage, Neath were unable to break down the Bridgend defence.
The game exploded into life in the second-half with three tries in three minutes.
First, Bridgend prop Jon Thiel crashed over from close range, which Cull converted, but Neath immediately hit back with a try from Shane Williams, converted by Conner.
Bridgend’s response was right out of the top drawer, a sweeping attack culminated in Gareth Cull crossing for the score, again converted by Cull.
In a nail-biting finale Neath spurned chances to snatch the match before the cool head of Cull dropped a sweet goal from 35-metres to seal the title.
|
WELSH PREMIERSHIP | ||||||||
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
PTS | ||||
|
1 |
Bridgend |
14 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
39 | ||
|
2 |
Neath |
15 |
10 |
1 |
4 |
31 | ||
|
3 |
Newport |
15 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
27 | ||
|
4 |
Cardiff |
13 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
22 | ||
|
5 |
Llanelli |
14 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
19 | ||
|
6 |
Swansea |
16 |
6 |
0 |
10 |
18 | ||
|
7 |
Pontypridd |
13 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
16 | ||
|
8 |
Caerphilly |
16 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
12 | ||
|
9 |
Ebbw Vale |
16 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
12 | ||
20/05/03
Bridgend: Tries: S Martens, J Thiel, G Cull. Cons: G Cull (1). Drop Goal: Gareth Cull (1).
Neath:Tries: Shane Williams. Cons: S Connor (2). Pens: S Connor (2).
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse
Att: 3,000
Bridgend: Cull; Carter, Bishop, Taumalolo, Owen; Warlow, Martens; Pope, B. Phillips, Thiel, D. Jones, Budgett, Molitika, Bryan, Harris.
Reps: R. Jones, van Rensburg, Powell, G. Thomas, Harries, M. James.
Neath: G. Morris; K. James, A. Bateman, Leyshon, S. Williams; S. Connor, Horgan; P. James, S. Jones, Millward, A. Newman, Martin, Mocelutu, Jenkins, Ringer.
Reps: M. Jones, Durston, Rees, L. Bateman, B. Williams, P. Jones, A. Howells, A. Howells.
