MERTHYR 28 points  NEATH 40 points

Neath turned in a compelling performance to capture Merthyr’s unbeaten record with a 6 tries to 4 victory at The Wern.

From start to finish, it was end-to-end stuff and it was all-square at 21-21 at half-time. Neath  were in determined mood and scored first through centre Sean Wilcox before lock Matthew Davies and captain Ben Williams added other tries with outside-half Paul Short converting them all.

But Merthyr matched them try for try as flanker Jack Perkins, skipper Paddy McBride and centre Tom Hughes crossed, outside-half Ben Jones converting all three.

In the second-half, Neath surged ahead with a try by flanker Casey Williams which Short converted but Merthyr equalised with a try by hooker Ellis Shipp converted by Jones and it was 28-28..

But in the final quarter Neath finished the stronger and were held up over the line twice before they added a fifth try by hooker Kian Jones which Short converted and the All Blacks completed a notable win at the home of the champions when flanker Gethin Tremlett touched down for their sixth score.