The scoreline reflected the chaos and craziness of this game when Neath completed a rapid double over Newbridge at the Welfare Ground in a frenzied encounter of 12 tries – 7 to Neath and 5 to the homesters.

Again, Neath changed half their team with Louis Rees coming back on permit from Pontypool and scrum-half Tom Collier (Tonna) and prop Conor van den Bogerd (Skewen) on the bench while Newbridge fielded 11 would-be avengers of the side  beaten at The Gnoll 38-22 a fortnight earlier.

A strong wind blowing from the school end offered Neath a decided advantage but, in a patchy first-half, the All Blacks did not make the most of it.

The elements played their part in the opening score when outside-half Steff Williams’ towering kick was botched by the home defence and alert wing Louis Rees nipped in for his 11th try for the Club and Williams converted for 7-nil.

But Newbridge quickly levelled when they opened up the Neath defence all too easily and centre Josh Thomas was the beneficiary, full back Sam Watkins adding the points.

Neath battered the home line at a series of line-outs and, after a couple of infringements kept them out, replacement hooker Kian Jones got his 10th try of the season and it was 12-7.

The All Blacks were not imposing themselves against a busy Newbridge team who took the lead with a try by flanker Lewis Hill converted by Sam Watkins – in the lead-up Newbridge handling was exemplary, Neath’s tackling was not.

12-14 down, Neath got their game together and flanker Gethin Tremlett cut a good angle for a try at the posts which Steff Williams goaled to restore Neath’s lead at 19-14 but Newbridge hit back, their heavy forwards driving strongly through too many tackles, and Hill bagged his second before half-time which was reached with the sides locked level.

Half-time – Newbridge 19 points Neath 19 points

The odds were firmly in favour of the home side who now held that wind advantage and five minutes into the second-half they nudged in front when Sam Watkins landed a straightforward penalty goal.

Newbridge’s kicking was not always as accurate as it might have been. Keeping possession was Neath’s game into the wind with full back Morgan Meaclem running the ball back and the young Davies lads – Luke and Aled – in the centre showing further promise.

On 50 minutes, Neath regained the lead when lock Matthew Davies ploughed through a hole in the Newbridge defence and outside-half Steff Williams supported and just made it to the try-line for Neath’s bonus point fourth try which he converted to make it 26-22.

Referee Amber Stamp-Dunstan tried to keep the game flowing and Newbridge were growing increasingly frustrated by their inability to break out as their discipline and handling let them down.

Neath were beginning to play and Gethin Tremlett supplied a fine pass for wing Jon Bayliss to cross for Neath’s fifth try which Williams converted and the back-rower’s backward flip pass then sent try-ace scrum-half Kaden Davies (who spots a scoring chance and has the pace to exploit it) racing for the corner for Neath’s sixth.

Suddenly it was 38-22 but Newbridge, on a rare second-half sortie to the Neath line, pulled back a score from replacement prop Scott Evans and Sam Watkins converted.

In quick time, Newbridge attempted to run the ball out from their own half but spilled possession and Neath put the game beyond doubt when Steff Williams gathered, dummied and strolled to the try-line, rounding behind the posts to make his conversion simple and it was 45-29.

In one last effort, Newbridge bagged their fifth try when winger Harry Jarvis rounded off a loose last passage of play and Sam Watkins goaled to bring to the game to an end – an entertaining 80 minutes but the defensive-work will have exasperated both coaches.

Newbridge had a former players’ gathering before the game and among those congregated was that fine back-row forward Dennis Hughes, capped by Wales in 1967, when defences were almost lock-tight; he probably reflected that Newbridge-Neath didn’t used to be like this – 12 tries !

NEWBRIDGE – S Watkins; H Jarvis, M Anderson, J Thomas, C Jones (R Turley); S Veall, I Martin-Lloyd (M Davies); G Young (G Evans), S Vokes (A Jenkins ), J Reames-Williams (S Evans); J Duffy (L Ford), G McDonnell (capt); J Hart (D Kipulu), Z Stuart (G Price), L Hill

NEATH – M Meaclem (Charlie Thomas) ; J Bayliss, L Davies, A Davies, L Rees; S Williams, K Davies (T Collier);  M Morgan (J Jones), S Jones (K Jones), M Lovell (C van den Bogerd); M Davies, J Barley (J Hughes); S Lewis, B Williams (capt) (W Pope, J Blackmore), G Tremlett

Referee – Ms. Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Cardiff)

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