Despite having a man sent off, Pontypridd took the honours at an atmospheric Gnoll in this keenly-fought top of the table tie.

An immaculately observed minute’s silence in memory of former Neath RFC surgeon Mike Davies and ex-full back Brian Thomas delayed the kick-off slightly – which was just as well for those still in queues which formed outside the turnstiles.

Drizzle and mist did not deter an enthusiastic crowd and Neath handed a debut to Kenfig Hill’s former Porthcawl and Swansea full back Gareth Rees but were without winger Ryan Griffiths and flanker Casey Williams.

Neath enjoyed the better of the early stages as they forced – and lost – an attacking line-out and the forwards launched a couple of promising forward drives while full back Rees impressed with his strong-running.

However, Pontypridd broke out through centre Garyn Smith and, after home winger Ki Morgan was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, the visitors opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Smith freed winger Dale Stuckey whose try was converted by outside-half Jayden Pugh.

Neath were having trouble getting their game together, home mistakes giving way to penalties, and when Pontypridd hit the corner, the backs joined a line-out maul and hooker Rob Jones grabbed their second try which Pugh converted to make it nil-14 after half an hour.

The All Blacks countered and splendid inter-play between backs and forwards created space on the left for winger Matthew Jenkins to cross in the clubhouse corner but the try sparked a melee after which experienced Pontypridd scrum-half Joel Raikes was sent off.

Half-time – Neath 5 points Pontypridd 14 points

 The second-half started badly for Neath as they conceded a penalty which Pugh landed to make it 5-17 but ten minutes into the half Neath struck back when a clever line-out move was seized upon by the forwards who rolled Pontypridd backwards and lock Matthew Davies added to his burgeoning try collection.

Steff Williams added the conversion points for 12-17 but 10 minutes later Pontypridd struck again with a second try by hooker Jones which Pugh again converted and it was 12-24.

Strong forward driving was the order of the day for both packs and Neath came again with a tit for tat third try by replacement hooker Josh Clark. Steff Williams added the conversion points and that narrowed the gap to 19-24 with ten minutes remaining.

With just five points between the teams, it was now or never for Neath who sought to make the most of their one-man advantage. Although they threw the kitchen sink at Pontypridd in a tremendous late onslaught, a combination of a little over-eagerness and splendid defence by the visitors kept the All Blacks at bay.

It was not Neath’s day and it all ended when Pugh booted the ball out of play to bring to a close a hard-fought battle between two well-matched sides who responded to the lead given by their industrious back-row captains in Ben Williams and Cally James.

The result was in doubt until the end – that the spoils finally went to Pontypridd was fair enough as they made fewer mistakes on a wet day and never trailed in a tight contest in which the two leading sides went at it hammer and tongs in another fine advertisement for Premiership rugby.

Pontypridd now lead second-placed Neath by four points and the All Blacks will be seeking an immediate return to winning ways when they visit Narberth on Saturday.

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

PONTYPRIDD – O.Shepherd; L.Rochefort-Shugar (L.Welch), S.Floyd-Ellis, G.Smith, D.Stuckey; J.Pugh (J.Symes), J.Raikes (sent off); B.Stephens (B.Drew), R.Jones (J.Young), K.Mattravers (D.Cotterell); M.Barnard (W.Jamieson), K.Parker; Cai James, J.Miles (L.Riley), Cally James (capt)

Referee – Mr. J.Rees (Tycroes)

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