The Welsh All Blacks won the Konica Minolta Cup with a 28-22 victory over Pontypridd at the Millennium Stadium to add to their Premiership title. And coach Phillips was delighted that Neath became the first club to win both domestic trophies since Llanelli in 1993.
After the cup final, Phillips said: “We didn’t want to mention the double until it happened, as the boys were focusing on things week by week.”
He added, “It was our focus either side of half time that proved key against Ponty, who had shown intensity in the loose and a willingness to spread the ball early on.
“In earlier rounds we only pulled through by the skin of our teeth at both Tonmawr and Cross Keys, but we were at the Millennium Stadium to do a job and that’s how it worked out. We don’t always get credit for our achievements.”
Having achieved a great victory at the Gnoll a fortnight earlier, morale was high at Pontypridd that they could emulate the cup final success of two years ago.
The Sardis Road club played their part in a thrilling final, but Head Coach Paul John said: “Neath prevented us from playing to our full potential, and a few Ponty players will look back on their displays.”
He added: “We were on the back foot far too much and seemed to lack confidence in key areas. In many ways we gave Neath too much respect.”
The victory was a fitting get-well message to Neath scrum half Gareth Jones who remains in hospital following a spinal injury last month. Neath captain and No.8 Lee Beach said: “We wanted to win the game for Gareth, and he was never far from our thoughts throughout the day.”
