Neath overcame a poor start to gain their fifth league win from seven against an always competitive Narberth side at The Gnoll on Saturday.

In the opening exchanges the All Blacks were punished for a couple of poor kicks as Narberth took the lead through tries by straight-line flanker Jac Delaney converted by outside-half Jon Rogers and a second by full back Ashley Sutton who ran a great support line on his way to the line.

12-nil down, Neath woke up at last : the tackling stepped up a gear and the home forwards took a firm grip on affairs – the scrum strong, the line-out accurate and the mauling unremitting.

Driving their way towards the Narberth line, Neath’s ‘tried and trusted’ was as relentless as it was unstoppable and eventually prop Mason Morgan drove over for the first try for outside-half Paul Short to convert.

Neath’s second try was a reward for patience as the All Blacks’ backs took a hand and retained possession through several phases before freeing winger Willis Wood who flew in at the corner and Paul Short’s conversion nosed Neath ahead.

Hitting the corner again, Neath’s surging mass struck once more. Successive drives had Narberth reeling and they conceded three ‘red zone’ penalties any one of which might have conceded a yellow card and a penalty try.

Neath’s third try of the afternoon was inevitable and when hooker Kian Jones finally got across, visiting No.8 Max Rodda-Ledder was sin-binned and Paul Short’s third goal put the home side in control.

Half-time – Neath 21 points Narberth 12 points

Neath made certain of a bonus point when more forceful work by the forwards, carefully  propelling the way 25 metres or so to the line. At the end of it all, No.8 Casey Williams scored the fourth try and Paul Short’s conversion attempt unluckily hit the right upright.

At 26-12, Neath might have been expected to press on for more but to their credit Narberth stuck in there and, with all replacements engaged, Neath found themselves stuck in their own territory.

Narberth hit back with a third try off a line-out by wing Harrison Burke who is this season’s Premiership’s top try-scorer, and Rogers’ conversion meant that there was only a score in it.

Neath raised their game once more as two grand kicks by Steff Williams and Paul Short established an attacking foothold for the forwards and, doing what they do best, the reward was a fifth try by popular lock Matthew Davies and Paul Short’s conversion made the game save for Neath at 33-19.

There was time for one splendid switch move from Neath which sent centre Will Hepher careering away into the 22 but there was no further score.

Neath now have a two week gap until visiting league leaders Merthyr of November 21 and it is important that the time is used to drive up fitness levels.

In earning wins over Bedwas, Llangennech and Narberth, Neath have made light of their injuries and the inaction will afford time to get back some of the ‘walking wounded’ too.

Behind the scrum, centres Luke Davies and Sean Wilcox are on the mend so too Kieran Charles while wing Llewellyn Hawkes will be back from Wales ‘A’ rugby league. Of the forwards, lock Jack Phillips should be ready and, in the back-row, Jordan Evans had a few minutes against Narberth, Elis Lewis is close to a return too, and Ben Williams trained last Thursday.

Consequential times ahead !

NEATH – I Morgan (S Williams); M Meaclem, W Hepher, S Harris, W Wood; P Short, K Davies (C Tantum); M Morgan (J Powell), K Jones (S Jones), M Lovell (capt) (L Jones); R Barrow (J Evans), M Davies; W Pope (B Thomas), C Williams (J Blackmore), G Tremlett

NARBERTH – A Sutton; H Burke, R Davies, A Davies (I Phillips), D James; J Rogers, L Gibby (J Thomas); J Wrigglesworth (B Davies), T Clarke (L Jones), G Rossiter (O Charles); I Wood, C Salmon; J Delaney (S Davies), M Rodda-Ledder (J James), T Powell (capt)

Referee – Mr M Leon (Cardiff)

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