Borderers battle in vain (From Western Telegraph)

Borderers battle in vain

Konica Minolta Welsh Cup 6th Round Whitland 5 Neath 15 Whitland showed typical commitment and pride in the green and white hoops as they took on Neath in this quarter-final tussle, holding the All Blacks to a 12-5 interval lead and battling until the final whistle as they limited their Premier Division opponents to just three points after the break.

The Borderers had chances to add to Lee Glanville's opening score but were never quite able to breach the visitors' defence again as a good crowd turned up at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn despite the cold conditions and snow in the surrounding countryside which miraculously missed the Whitland area.

The pitch was in surprisingly good condition although it inevitably became heavier as the game progressed, with the Borderers playing into the breeze at the start but playing with plenty of skill and drive as Fakatah Molitika set up their first chance with a thrust that was continued by ever-present skipper Phil Morgan before full back Gavin Morris almost reached the line.

The Neath cover closed the gap but good rucking by Gareth Williams, Jason Evans and Dai Jones allowed nippy scrum half Andrew Jenkins to switch play left where Lee Glanville took possession from co-centre Matthew Hughes. He still appeared to have too much to do until he showed strength to go with his elusiveness, twisting away from the tackler and managing to reach out for a cracking unconverted try which raised the Whitland morale and warmed their hardy band of supporters.

The All Blacks snatched the lead after 14 minutes when they ran a penalty near the posts so that bustling flanker Andy Fletcher was able to fend off two tackles as the home defence for once failed to focus and he scored at the posts for Matthew Jones to add the extras.

Randal Williams and Johnnie Kaloi won good possession for Whitland but Neath added to their advantage after scrum half Patrick Horgan set winger Kevin James away on a diagonal run. He beat two tacklers but was tackled well by Gavin Morris - only for No 8 Steve Phillips to get up inside to race over for a good unconverted try as reward for excellent support play.

Lee Glanville twice popped up in moves where he showed what a good runner he has become, linking well with winger Jack Tremlett and then Andrew Richards , only for the final pass to go astray, as it did at the other end where Neath winger Richard Johnston looked in the clear with an interception attempt of a Jenkins' floated pass but suffered from icy fingers and spilled the chance with the line a-begging.

Another arcing run from Glanville didn't come to fruition as the final pass went to ground but with second-half use of the elements, and only seven points adrift, the Borderers were very much in contention.

But the All Blacks brought on Welsh international Brett Sinkinson and used the experience of another Welsh old-timer in Mark Jones to kill off ball and deny the Borderers the momentum they needed. The home crowd were clearly irked by some of the decisions that went against them and Neath extended their lead midway through the second half when Matthew Jones slotted a penalty.

The final quarter saw the Borderers use all their replacements in the hope that fresh legs might bring a change in fortune but Neath had a defensive pattern that would have pleased coach Rowland Phillips as they spun a web that prevented any points for the homesters. So it was Neath who entered the last eight of the competition but Whitland could certainly hold their heads high after a committed display that did the club proud - and was watched from a car by Dai John, the club General Manager who is happily out of hospital in London.

The Whitland match sponsors were the Ladies of Whitland RFC whilst the team sponsors were Terry O'Neill, Team Tours Direct, Swansea; Cliff Bowen and Wyn Rosser. The match balls were sponsored Allen & Partners, Veterinary Surgeons, Whitland; Ron Mounsey, McDonalds; KP Thomas and Son, Fuel Distributors, Templeton; The Trevaughan Lodgers.