Neath captain Jordan Collier has praised his team for their effort and energy during the Welsh All Blacks’ successful start to the season – and says now they must keep it going.

The Cimla-based former Tonmawr back-rower said, “I am really pleased and proud of the way the boys have knuckled down both pre-season and in winning our opening two League games.

“After winning our three warm-up games, we were not quite sure where we were although Moseley were a top outfit who beat Worcester next time out.

“I thought we played some very good stuff in beating Swansea 39-16 but last Saturday’s 18-15 win over Carmarthen Quins was a bigger one for us as they beat us well last year.

“The side is coming together and, thanks to all the work we’ve done with conditioning coaches Lewis Davies and Idris Hanmer, we finished both games stronger.

“Against the Quins, we were good value for our win after leading for 75 minutes of the game. It didn’t really come through in the reports but Quins only nudged ahead in injury-time.

“We’d been kept defending largely by Haydn Pugh’s line-out work and because we conceded too many penalties – our indiscipline cost us two more tries – but our fitness and attitude got us through.

“From the re-start, we got our hands on the ball, kept possession and ran them until the opportunity opened up for Ed Howley to carve out the winning try.

“Now we ready ourselves for RGC and, with the Gnoll crowd right behind us, we are looking for another scalp.”