Seeing Red

What better way to celebrate Boxing Day than a good game of rugby! Boxing Day tradition sees Neath R.F.C. taking on our nearest rivals, Aberavon, in the derby match; although I think we took the boxing a little bit too seriously this year. Within the first ten minutes of the match two players were sent off, one from Neath and one from Aberavon, and that probably set the tone for the rest of the match and destroyed the game as a spectacle.

Neath lost 8-16 to Aberavon, not long after the two sending offs we conceded a flukey try as our fullback failed to gather a hack on. We scored just before half time and you would have though we would have kicked on and taking the game by the scruff of the neck. Sadly not, and at the start of the second half it seemed like we had fifteen minutes of solid scrimmaging, which is boring as anything and sucked the life out of the game! The ref had a lot to answer for though, he failed to let the game flow and neither side could get any continuity in their game, I think his whistle must have been a Christmas present! Lol!

One good thing about the game was the crowd, there was apparently over 4,000 in the crowd and the shot shows the shed end pretty much full, I believe there was a similar crowd at the Pontypridd v Cardiff match. What some of the regions would give for passionate fans who create a special atmosphere!