In difficult conditions at The Gnoll, Neath failed to make the most of their chances but did enough to succeed in securing a ninth bonus point win of the season.

After another week’s rains, The Gnoll was heavy and wet … very wet. For those stay-at-homes who watched the internationals on TV, think Italy-Scotland – but with more mud … a lot more mud !

The conditions were not the best for a young outside-half to make his debut but Banwen-based Charlie Thomas did well enough to suggest that he will be a useful asset especially on firmer pitches to come.

Flanker Gethin Tremlett took over the captaincy in the absence of Ben Williams and set a lively example and Neath were soon on the attack as the forwards established a supremacy which, one late scrum apart, they held until the very end.

The All Blacks took an early lead when hooker Sion Jones powered over for Neath’s 100th try of the season but, as the rain turned from torrents to an absolute deluge, Narberth countered with a penalty by outside-half Nico Setaro.

Neath went mighty close with a couple of forward drives which were held up over the line and which ought to have extended their lead. And when they explored the width of the pitch, Llewellyn Hawkes looked lively and Josh Male dropped a soaking ball off a not totally sympathetic pass with the line at his mercy.

But the intensity of the Neath forward-play was bound to tell and, when Narberth impeded as the All Black forwards repeatedly rolled forward, referee Mr. Joseff Rees (Tycroes) who did his best to keep things positive on an awful day rightly awarded Neath a penalty try to make it 17-3 which slightly better reflected the run of the game.

However, just before half-time Narberth bagged a try by No.8 Roy Osbourn which was converted by outside-half Nico Setaro and they could hardly believe their luck in going in just one score adrift at the end of a half which Neath had dominated.

Half-time – Neath 17 points Narberth 10 points

Neath changed their jerseys at half-time but their white set soon matched Narberth’s shade of brown in the muddy morass.

Setaro kicked a second penalty as Neath seemed determined to keep Narberth’s hopes alive at 17-13 and the All Blacks were guilty of blowing further chances and again conceded far too many penalties.

The home forwards remained on top as Neath settled for territorial command dominance with Narberth unable to break the strangle-hold and the All Blacks lacking the final polish.

Until that was Man of the match Casey Williams (who must have shaded the ever-industrious front five to the NRSC award) took a hand. He touched down at the back of a rapidly-advancing scrum for Neath’s fourth (and bonus-point) try and Charlie Thomas converted for his first points for the Club .

That extended Neath’s lead to 24-13 but, despite controlling the territory, they could not get a fifth try to finally shake off a resolute Narberth side who struck twice with late, long-distance penalties from replacement Jonathan Rogers who rescued a bonus-point for the Pembrokeshire side in the dying minutes with the penultimate play.

Neath made one last attack – which was repelled – before two teams of muddied heroes gratefully trooped off for a well-deserved hot shower.

While Neath, in such atrocious conditions, were happy to have gained a bonus-point win and Narberth seemed equally as delighted to have bagged a losing one, the overall performance had something of the ‘dodgy builder’ about it – the All Blacks did most of the job but did not come back to complete it !

Such a luxury cannot be afforded teams of the punishing quality of Beddau, Bargoed and Pontypridd who are the next three opponents on the Neath list.

NEATH – I Morgan (S.Williams); J Bayliss, S Wilcox, J Male, M Meaclem; Charlie Thomas, C Tantum (K Davies); M Morgan (J Jones), S Jones (K Jones), M Lovell; M Davies, J Hughes (J Evans); J Blackmore (W Pope), C Williams, G Tremlett (capt)

NARBERTH – H Fuller(J Rogers); O Hill (J Thomas), A Davies, H Griffiths, D James (B Cramb); N Setaro, L Gibby; J Wrigglesworth (G Rossiter), T Clarke (K Hamer), R Rees (T Slater); S Martin (K  Allen), C Salmon (capt); J Delaney, R Osbourn, S Davies (J Bowen_

Referee – Mr J Rees (Tycroes)

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