Five-try Neath went equal top of the Premiership on points with Pontypridd after a rip-roaring victory over Ystrad Rhondda in an open and entertaining game which did not lack vigour.

In perfect conditions another goodly crowd gathered to witness a tie between the two clubs who inevitably provide plenty of thrills and spills and Neath wasted no time in taking the initiative as winger Ryan Griffiths charged down from the kick off.

Neath asserted themselves and made a fast start. Just three minutes were on the clock when the referee Mr. Kristoff Young  played a good advantage, Neath moved the ball to the right and try-merchant Ki Morgan crossed for the opening try which outside-half Steff Williams converted and the All Blacks were on their way.

Ystrad Rhondda responded positively but missed a straightforward penalty and Neath worked their way to half-way where a well-timed pass by full back Iestyn Morgan freed Ryan Griffiths who stormed away for his third try in three games and outside-half Steff Williams converted to make it 14-nil on 12 minutes.

Boosted by some impressive line-out leaping by Jacob Blackmore and Cai Arnold to meet hooker Evan Kneath’s accurate throwing, Neath were playing with pace and making most of the running with centre Kieran Charles a constant threat. Spurning a penalty in front of the posts for an attacking line-out, non-stop flanker Casey Williams was held up.

A high tackle on Iestyn Morgan gave the All Blacks another chance and this time flanker Gethin Tremlett crossed for the third try, Steff Williams converting to make it 21-nil midway through the half.

Ystrad Rhondda then enjoyed a period of pressure but Neath’s defence, taking its lead from those two terriers Casey Williams and scrum-half Ellis Lewis, kept them at bay and, when play reverted to the Union end, the Neath forwards drove hard for the line in search of a bonus-point try but were denied seemingly for an accidental off-side.

Ystrad Rhondda’s former Neath second row Thomas John was helped off to be replaced by the experienced Garyn Davies and Ystrad Rhondda fought themselves back into contention when outside-half Rhys Truelove atoned for his earlier error by stepping over for the visitors’ first try which he converted himself as a lively first-half drew to a close.

Half-time – Neath 21 points Ystrad Rhondda 7 points

Neath started the second-half on the attack and captain Ben Williams charged deep into Ystrad Rhondda territory but over-eagerness saw the home team penalised.

Play was pretty even for a while and there was a moment of mirth when both outside-halves knocked on within a minute of each other but the crowd’s good humour soon  turned to displeasure.

Rather like Dylan Thomas’ Swansea, rugby football can be both ‘ugly’ and ‘lovely’  and that was true of this game which featured some gloriously open rugby alongside some rather nefarious instances.

When things boiled over into a phalanx of fisticuffs, young referee Mr. Kristoff Young could have done with the assistance of two touch-line officials to help keep the peace.

A couple of dodgy tackles provoked the outbreak and, when order was restored, the sinned-against Ki Morgan and an Ystrad Rhondda man were sent to the naughty bench.

It served only to fire-up Neath who, roared on by their suddenly vociferous support, planted themselves in the Ystrad Rhondda 22 and, after stretching the defence one way then the other, Neath No.8 Ben Williams plunged over in the left corner for his team’s bonus-point try after good work by the forwards.

At 26-7 with 10 minutes remaining, Neath were in command but, when an undetected Ystrad Rhondda hand seemed to retrieve the ball at a tackle, the visitors made the most of the opportunity to carve out a try for flanker Matthew Williams which Truelove converted.

As if to underline their determination, Neath retaliated almost immediately and created space in the Ystrad Rhondda 22 for Ben Williams to claim his second try. Steff Williams’s fourth conversion made it 33-14.

Even so, battling Ystrad Rhondda were not done and, as home replacement scrum-half Rhodri Cole departed, the Rhondda side pounced for a line-out drive try by hooker Liam Wiggins and on time Ystrad Rhondda added a fourth try by replacement centre and former captain Cole Morgan which gave them a deserved bonus point of their own.

That brought to an end an action-packed game which everybody appeared to enjoy which is not altogether surprising – after all, the ‘Spaghetti western’ “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” did rather well for itself too and all three traits were there to be seen at The Gnoll.

Neath now take a break until November 9th when Bargoed visit The Gnoll – the Rhymney Valley side created a shock on Saturday when winning 39-35 at erstwhile leaders Merthyr.

It promises to be quite a game so mark it in your diary !

NEATH – I.Morgan; K.Morgan, M.Jenkins, K.Charles, R.Griffiths; S.Williams (G.Richards), E.Lewis (R.Cole); J.Powell (G.W.Lloyd), E.Kneath (K,Jones), M.Morgan (T.Dabeh); C.Arnold, J.Blackmore (M.Davies); C.Williams (M.Kneath), B.Williams (capt), G.Tremlett

K.Jones G.W.Lloyd T.Dabeh M.Davies M.Kneath R.Cole M.Jenkins L.Hawkes

YSTRAD RHIONDDA – J.Williams; A.Webber, L.Hutchings (C.Morgan), R.Evans, Cavan Davies (B.Huxtable); R.Truelove, K.Richards (C.Phillips); L.Moore (J.Dauncey), L.Wiggins (C.Williams), T.Stacey; T.John (G.Davies), M.Burgess (M.Auger); M.Williams, K.Jones (J.Rees), J.Llewellyn (capt)

Referee – Mr. K.Young (Corsham)

Images courtesy of Len Kowalski www.lensworkphotography.co.uk