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Neath RFC

After Wales’ nil-43 “em-Paris-ment” on Friday evening, Neath and Newcastle Emlyn put a few smiles on Welsh rugby faces at The Gnoll in an entertaining running game.

Newcastle Emlyn, buoyed by their fine 21-15 win over Brecon the previous week and paying their first ever visit to The Gnoll, struck first with a try by winger Llyr Joneson four minutes and the conversion points were added by full back Steff Wyn Evans.

Neath struck back after good work by centre Rhodri Wall with a splendid try of their own – energetic flanker Casey Williams was the scorer and Steff Williams’ conversion levelled it at 7-7 before Neath incurred a penalty for a deliberate knock-on which Evans struck nicely for 7-10.

But Neath went back in front when full back Iestyn Morgan plucked a difficult pass out of the air and fed inside where live-wire scrum-half Connor Tantum was on hand to dash over for Neath’s second try which Williams converted and it was 14-10.

The All Blacks went further ahead when prop Josh Jones made ground and Steff Williams’ break was finished off by Matthew Jenkins who bagged Neath’s third try, Williams again converting for 21-10 before unnecessary back-chat allowed Evans to land his second penalty.

Neath’s tight five were working hard to ensure set-piece efficiency which allowed the back row to roam to good effect while the return of centre Sean Wilcox was good to see as he combined effectively with Rhodri Wall who contributed several deft touches.

Great work by back-rowers Ben Williams and Casey Williams paved the way for Neath’s fourth and bonus point try – a second for Casey Williams and Steff Williams’ inevitable conversion gave Neath a comfy cushion at half-time.

Half-time – Neath 28 points Newcastle Emlyn 13 points

Neath were soon into their stride after the interval as a 30-metre run by skipper Ben Williams was well backed up by eager support runners and swift hands resulted in a fine try by Iestyn Morgan on the left which Steff Williams improved upon it to make it 35-10.

Wing Nathan Orrells might have added to Neath’s score but he lost the ball on the try-line before Newcastle Emlyn did their utmost to strike back and were held up on the Neath line.

The visitors kept coming but generally they were frustrated by Neath harrying and too often turned over possession and, as Neath rang the changes, a big cheer greeted prop Ben Uphill when he emerged from the replacements’ bench for his 100th appearance for the Club.

Lock Jacob Blackmore had been in thick of things all afternoon and his good work, backed up by replacement Dyfan Ceredig, got Neath on the attack for Steff Williams to slide a kick through for Connor Tantum, now operating on the wing, to grab his second try – Neath’s sixth and it was 40-15.

Neath were beginning to find their flow and great inter-passing and support-play led to replacement lock Matthew Davies plunging over for the seventh try which Steff Williams goaled and it was 47-15.

Finally, when the Neath pack empowered by Ben Uphill, drove Newcastle Emlyn off their own ball, the backs swept left and replacement George Richards dabbed down for the eighth which Steff Williams again improved to make it 54-13 as Neath hit the half-century for the first time in the league this season.

As a result of this win, Neath leap-frogged inactive Merthyr back into second place in the WRU Premiership. Merthyr have games in hand and the All Blacks take a break next weekend ahead of what will surely be a testing challenge at Ystrad Rhondda on February 15.

NEATH – I Morgan; N Orrells (G Richards), R Wall, S Wilcox, M Jenkins (E Lewis); S Williams, C Tantum; J Jones (G W Lloyd), E Kneath (J Clark), T Dabeh (B Uphill); J Blackmore (M Davies), C Arnold; Casey Williams, B Williams (capt) (O Morgan),  G Tremlett (D Ceredig)

NEWCASTLE EMLYN – S W Evans; L Jones, B Morgan, A Owens (L Morgan), A Rodda-Lodder (R Wharton); S Evans, M Jones; E Davies (capt) (G Davies), I Rees-Lewis (D Morgan), I Bryant (O Dafis); D Havard, B Davies (A Jones); H Holden, A Williams (D Rowe), Callum Williams

Referee – Mr. M Leon (Cardiff)

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

@NeathTog