The sun shone at The Gnoll for Neath’s opening WRU Premiership game of the 2026/27 season and Neath, while happy to have picked up a bonus point win, will not be satisfied with their second-half performance which tailed off badly.

The home forwards were well on top from the outset and the Welsh All Blacks powered into a 33-7 half-time lead only to go off the boil.

Five first-half tries were Neath’s reward for their dominance as centre Sean Wilcox, wings Morgan Meaclem and Lochie Barron, scrum-half Dion Jones and hooker Sion Jones all crossed, Paul Short converting four.

Try-scoring newcomers Lochie Barron and Dion Jones can be satisfied with their debuts as can lock Jack Phillips who was a willing carrier for most of the afternoon.

Referee Mr Joseff Rees (Tycroes) showed the over-worked Wanderers defenders more than a little leniency and the visitors managed a splendid try in reply – by flanker Dylan Lewis who took a neat inside ‘flip’ from centre Nick Gale who converted the score.

Half-time score – Neath 33 points Llanelli Wanderers 7 points

Home supporters expecting a repetition in the second half were disappointed as Neath failed to kick on. Whatever the reason – game already won, loss of focus, one or two odd decisions, losing a player, energy-conservation in the heat – it was not what was required.

Of course, another reason may have been simply that Wanderers played a lot better in the second half. With ex-Neath scrum-half Jacob Daniels taking some watching, Wanderers added three second-half tries  by replacements Jed Anthony and Dylan Rowe, and by Nick Gale who converted all three.

It earned them a last-gasp losing bonus point but Neath, who played well within themselves, managed just one score – a second for Wilcox after a defensive error which outside-half Short converted.

A bonus-point win – but coach Tim Ryan will demand, “Must do better” from his charges who will need to play for 80 minutes at Cross Keys next Saturday.

NEATH – S Williams; M Meaclem, S Wilcox, K Charles (I Morgan), L Barron; P Short (R Callaghan), D Jones (R Jones); M Morgan (B Uphill), S Jones (K Jones), M Lovell (capt) (K Harris); J Phillips (R Barrow), M Davies; W Pope (J Blackmore), J Evans, G Tremlett

LLANELLI WANDERERS – E Payne; L Smith, N Gale, H Griffiths, L Watkins; R Harris, J Daniel; K Jewell, D Roberts, G Havard; L Ellery, R Evans; D Lewis, L Thomas (capt), S Icke Repl – L Jones, O Davies, R Price, L Tucker, J Anthony, B Harries, D Rowe, J Clode

Referee – Mr J Rees (Tycroes)

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