Nine tries between the two sides provided ample entertainment – but Neath need to develop a more ruthless streak ! That is the lesson to be drawn from this victory for the All Blacks which was comfortable enough without being wholly convincing.

The improved weather helped ensure that The Gnoll was in excellent condition and kick off was delayed by 15 minutes after Cardiff Met’s bus broke down.

Josh Clark led out the Neath team on his 50th appearance and Ms. Amber Stamp-Dunstan created history as the first female to referee Neath in its long history.

Slightly against the run of play – or at least the territory – the students took the lead when centre Toby Clinch cut an excellent angle and raced away from a poorly-defended short line-out for the opening try which outside-half Ross McKay of Ballymena converted.

This stung Neath into action and skipper Ben Williams and prop Rhys Taylor hit the try-line only to be penalised before hooker Josh Clark dabbed down for a celebratory try which outside-half Steff Williams converted

The All Blacks kept up the pressure and Ben Williams appeared to have touched down in the left corner but the effort was ruled out as the referee was unsighted but the home team were not to be denied and prop Rhys Taylor burrowed over for a debut try which Steff Williams converted.

Half-time – Neath 14 points Cardiff Metropolitan 7 points

Neath started the second-half positively but did not make the most of their early opportunities until full back Gareth Rees nipped in for his first try for the club to extend Neath’s lead.

Cardiff Met hit back almost immediately when Neath lad Cerith Davies who had only just emerged from the replacements’ bench took advantage of slack Neath narrow-side defence and cantered over for a try which McKay converted and it was 19-14.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Neath winger Ki Morgan was rewarded for his persistence when he pounced for his 8th try of the season which secured the try bonus for Neath and Steff Williams goaled it.

Two minutes later, Neath were at it again as centre Kieran Charles intercepted and showed that he has learned the lesson of his last such effort at Newbridge and this time he veered clear of the defence to touch down for Neath’s fifth try and Steff Williams again converted.

At 33-14, Neath were in control of the scoreboard but, amidst a flurry of replacements on both side, the All Blacks were guilty of failing to push home their advantage.

The game was safely in the bag going into the last quarter but two late tries by the visitors took the shine off it as Neath did enough to hold on to second place in the WRU Premiership but little more.

Instead of putting their foot on the accelerator, Neath eased off the pedal – and this is where they pale in comparison with top of the division rivals Pontypridd and Merthyr.

Cardiff Met hit back with two late tries, the first from a forward effort by prop Olly Davies, the second by winger Tom Weekley who flew in at the right corner. Replacement Tom Howlett converted superbly from the right touchline to secure a second bonus point for the visitors.

That brought to an end an enjoyable encounter although the result was beyond doubt too soon to make it truly exciting.

There were a lot of sound performers in the Neath effort : in particular, young prop Tarik ‘Bull’ Dabeh at the scrums and in the close-in tackling, lock Cai Arnold who won plenty of clean line-out ball while Rhys Taylor, Josh Clark and Owain Morgan will have benefited from some match-time as they have been under-employed of late.

On the Met side, Ollie Arnold was a lively hooker and the two Canadian Under-20’s internationals Ryan Cozens and Ollie Wiseman also caught the eye in the pack; it was a strange quirk of fate that the two lads – Cerith Davies and Tom Weekley – who have played for Neath got on their score-sheet.

Neath have no game next Saturday as the All Blacks reserve their strength for the Boxing Day game against Bonymaen at The Gnoll (kick off 2.30pm).

That looks like being quite an occasion, certainly the holiday sporting highlight in the Town – it is not an all-ticket affair but advance sales suggest that there will be a big holiday crowd which will be easily the best club crowd in Wales this season.

NEATH – G.Rees; I.Morgan, M.Jones, K.Charles, K.Morgan (R.Griffiths); S.Williams (M.Jenkins), R.Cole; R.Taylor (M.Morgan), J.Clark (K.Jones), T.Dabeh (G.W.Lloyd) ; C.Arnold, M.Davies (D.Watkins); O.Morgan (C.Williams), B.Williams (capt) (M.Kneath), G.Tremlett

CARDIFF MET – T.Evans; I.Evans (T.Weekley), G.Patterson, T.Clinch, O.Hill; R.McKay (T.Howlett), L.Pereira (M.Van Hilst); H.Silman (L.Newstead), O.Arnold (D.Manaseitava), A.Wakefield (O.Davies); S.Bryan, R. Cozens (O.Wiseman); M.Brown (capt), N.Murphy (C.Davies), J.Hart

Referee – Ms. A. Stamp-Dunstan (Cardiff)

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