NEATH  43 points  LLANGENNECH 34 points

Rich entertainment was the name of the game under The Gnoll floodlights when Neath overcame a determined effort by Llangennech, paying their first league visit, in front of an appreciative Friday night crowd.

Llangennech have made a good impression in their first Premiership season and have beaten league favourites Merthyr and lost by a single point to front-runners Pontypridd. They made several changes from the side which lost to Brecon a week earlier whereas  Neath – unusually – made but one with Josh Clark resuming at hooker for Kian Jones who has had a heavy workload recently.

One of the players recalled by Llangennech was former Carmarthen Quins outside-half Steff Marshall and he played a leading hand in proceedings from the outset.

Llangennech relished the vibrant atmosphere of The Gnoll and burst out of the blocks in a stunning start which saw Marshall, dummying and darting, cross for a try after five minutes. He converted himself and then landed a penalty which increased the volume from the Llangennech drummer in the Town End terrace.

Things got even better for the visitors when an ambitious pass landed in the grasp of winger Callum Woolley who raced half the field for a try which Marshall converted and Neath were facing a nil-17 deficit with the game a quarter gone.

Neath looked as if they were suffering a hangover from the final minutes of their fine win at Bargoed the previous week and there was nothing much good about their play in the first twenty mistakes as errors proliferated and silly penalties were conceded.

But to their credit, inspired by skipper Ben Williams, the All Blacks shook themselves and the second quarter was very much theirs as they set about overturning the arrears.

Neath’s scrum was solid throughout and as the ball supply increased so the All Blacks asserted themselves. The forwards started imposing themselves and drove strongly for hooker Josh Clark to claim the first home try.

Llangennech’s dangerous centres Kalum Evans and Will Thomas took some watching by the Neath defence but the visitors had to make  a couple of replacements and Neath soon conjured up a second try.

And a real beauty it was, sharp winger Jon Bayliss arrowing in from the narrow side to burst through and full back Iestyn Morgan applied the finishing touches with a try at the posts which outside-half Steff Williams converted to put the All Blacks back in touch at 12-17.

The All Blacks kept up the pressure and another forward drive resulted in a first try for prop Mason Morgan – fitting reward for his work in the tight. Steff Williams converted and suddenly Neath were in front going into the interval.

Half-time – Neath 19 points Llangennech 17 points

Neath started the second-half with far more purpose than they had done the first and increased their lead with a fourth, bonus-point try by lock Matthew Davies which Steff Williams converted for 26-17 before Marshall pulled back a penalty.

The All Blacks wasted no time in clinching another try, the forwards hammering away at the visitors’ line before Steff Williams’ perfectly placed cross-kick was cleanly gathered by winger Rhodri Wall who dabbed down for Neath’s fifth try which Williams goaled and it was 33-20.

With their forwards on top, Neath were now playing with great intent and the sixth try came midway though the half when Matthew Davies bagged his second and Steff Williams’ fifth conversion made it an imposing 40-20.

This more or less erased memories of that gruesome start as in more or less equal time the All Blacks had scored 40 points with just 3 against. Neath were seemingly coasting with the damage more than repaired.

Job done ? Not a bit of it. Llangennech kept going to the final whistle as Neath, for the second time in successive games, lost their way and the visitors were rewarded by two late tries by former Neath Colts hooker Finn Thomas.

Marshall -naturally – converted both and suddenly it was 40-34 with a minute’s injury-time to play. Fortunately, Neath swept up-field and squeezed Llangennech to earn a penalty which, with the last kick of the game, Steff Williams successfully placed to bring to an end a superbly entertaining, if not technically perfect, evening’s entertainment.

* Neath take a break next week, the potential anniversary match against South Gower falling victim to the Swansea side’s injury-list, so the All Blacks will next be in action on Saturday, April 12 at home to Narberth (kick off 2.30pm). It could be another cracker so ink it in your diary !

NEATH  – I Morgan (M Jenkins); J Bayliss, S Wilcox, K Charles, R Wall; S Williams, C Tantum (R Cole); M Morgan (J Jones), J Clark (K Jones), T Dabeh (B Uphill); M Davies, J Blackmore; C Williams (O Rice), B Williams (capt) (D Ceredig), G Tremlett (E Hopkins)

LLANGENNECH – L Randall (W Wood); C Woolley, K Evans, W Thomas, L Rees (T Morgan); S Marshall, G George (B Thomas);  I Jones (J Price), C Williams (F Thomas), B Lee (C Davies); J Evans (S Richards), R Morgans; F Cooke (J Edwards), J Saunders, S Edwards (capt)

Referee – Mr K David (Cefn Cribwr)

Top of the Table :-                             P       W       D       L         For    Agst    Points

Merthyr                                  17      15      0        2        828     265        77

Pontypridd                              19      15      0        4        627     351        75

NEATH                                     19      14      1        4        575     414        71

Bargoed                                  18      11      1        6        473     401        57

Brecon                                    20      10      1        9        576     530        56

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