Neath’s 2025/26 season finished in a high-scoring defeat in an end-of-season affair of 11 tries at gloriously sunny Gelligaled Park.

For some weeks now, Neath have known that they could only reside in fourth place in the Premiership while Ystrad Rhondda had assured themselves of safety in their previous game. Therefore, at best bragging rights were on offer but the game produced a keen contest and entertainment aplenty as well as a touch of tetchiness.

Injuries and unavailabilities made Neath’s selection difficult but young centre Luke Davies returned, another teenager Rhodri Jones got his second start at scrum-half while the bench featured three injured backs who were not to be introduced unless absolutely necessary. Ystrad too had injuries and brought in some pedigree reinforcements.

From the outset, the game was all-action and after a spell of end-to-end play Ystrad Rhondda took the lead with a penalty by outside-half Jacob Symes and then centre Macaulay Rowley, on permit from  Bridgend, crossed for the first try before grand work by the forwards produced Neath’s first try through hooker Kian Jones.

A quickly-taken penalty produced a second home try for full back Alex Webber who is retiring after a splendid career in which he represented Wales Sevens but Neath kept in touch when wing Llewellyn Hawkes gathered a Steff Williams kick and the outside-half converted.

Half-time – Ystrad Rhondda 13 points  Neath 12 points

 The second-half continued its ding-dong progress as Neath asserted themselves at the set-pieces and flanker Jordan Evans was perhaps the liveliest forward in a fighting pack in which props Josh Jones and Chris Davies worked hard as did their replacements Mason Morgan and Dewi Brown (Gorseinon).

Another Steff Williams kick was gathered by left wing Ki Morgan who touched down for Neath’s third try which Williams goaled to put Neath in front at 19-13 but crucially Ystrad Rhondda then enjoyed a golden spell.

It started when flanker Ethan Fackrell cut a superb line to send Keian Richards over at the posts for Symes to convert, then brilliant work by Webber sent wing Kurtis Williams over and replacement outside-half Lewis Williams converted. And when prop Tom Stacey was awarded a corner try from a line-out, Neath looked down and out at 19-32.

Somehow the All Blacks found the energy to create two more tries – both by Kian Jones who completed his hat-trick off Neath’s efficient line-out work. The young hooker’s accurate throws repeatedly found his targets and locks Matthew Davies and replacement Brynley Thomas provided the takes as he took his tally to 15 tries for the season (14 of them in the league).

Steff Williams converted the first but not the second which would have given Neath the lead as there was only a point in it at 31-32 but Ystrad Rhondda struck again when Scarlets No.8 Ben Williams picked up to speed off the back of a scrum and scored easily between the posts for Lewis Williams to convert and make the game safe.

There was insufficient time for Neath to claim a second bonus point before the troupe  trooped off to end the season – the tired players deserved the generous applause as they had given everything.

After the joy of winning the WRU Cup, Neath did not so much sprint towards the finishing line as limp towards it and their third consecutive defeat meant that they completed the season with 14 league wins set against a disappointing 10 losses.

After a good rest and re-charging of the batteries, the All Blacks will be aiming to do considerably better next season !

YSTRAD RHONDDA – A Webber; K Williams, M Rowley, L Hutchings, C Edwards (R Dendle); J Symes (L K Williams), K Richards (C Phillips); T Stacey (N English), C Evans (D Phillips), L Moore (D Webb); S Edwards, C Parry (Caeron Davies); J Rees, B Williams, E Fackrell

NEATH – I Morgan; L Hawkes, L Davies, S Wilcox, K Morgan; S Williams, R Jones; J Jones (M Morgan), K Jones (M Little), Chris Davies (D Brown); M Davies, J Blackmore (B Thomas); Jordan Evans, Jon Evans, G Tremlett (capt) (T Richards)

Referee – Mr Cai Lewis (Ystradgynlais)