Fixture

An interesting test for Saints in third place against a Neyland side three points adrift in fifth, with some good results this year and a better track record against Saints in recent years, was the background for this Division 3 West A game, so it was the team looking to gain the early advantage to gain the upper hand who had the best chance of carrying the day in what promised to be a very even encounter.

Almost immediately in the first action of the game, left wing Jon Gostling finished off a flowing back division move with a touchdown in the corner to give St Clears the start they were looking for and that early momentum carried on to produce another try for open side flanker Jake Iles, shortly afterwards to establish the desired early advantage.

Neyland hit back however and within five minutes their lively number 11 Luke Conbeer crossed for a try and with a conversion kept the home side well in contention.

A successful penalty kick from Shane Morgan, deputising for the absent Geraint Jones and a first Saints try for inside centre Michael Georgiau, following some good work and an excellent offload from his fellow centre Lee Glanville, plus the extras from Shane, restored the visitors lead to 13 points.

Ten minutes later in a ‘tit for tat’ Neyland’s Luke Conbeer added his second and the margin was cut once again to touching distance.    

On the stroke of half time hooker Dafydd Page crashed over for the bonus scoring point try and a half time score of 25 points to 14 in favour of the visitors.

 An early penalty in the second half kicked by Shane Morgan increased the lead and tries from number 8 Tom Rees, converted by Shane and another from substitute Will Davies within a space of ten minutes, produced a comfortable score line of 40 points to 14.   

At that stage with the game won, Saints, who had withstood most of Neyland’s best attacking efforts reasonably well, lost concentration and in a final frantic last ten minutes allowed the home side to score two late tries but also a further one themselves through sub James Davies, but the bonus point gained by Neyland rather spolt what had otherwise been a very good all round performance.