NEATH threw away a 12-nil lead to suffer their fourth defeat at The Gnoll this season in a low-key affair against Bargoed.

Changes in the All Blacks’ starting line-up saw Steff Williams return at outside-half with Steff Lewis and Will Pope coming into the pack.

After a guarded opening in which Neath got on top at the set-pieces, they hit Bargoed with two mid-half tries through flanker Will Pope (this converted by Steff Williams) and then by scrum-half Connor Tantum who winded himself in the process.

Neath had several chances to add to their 12-nil lead, perhaps the most spectacular opening being engineered by wing Jon Bayliss and flanker Steff Lewis, but at the other end skipper Ben Williams was called upon to save Neath.

The All Blacks have developed an irritating habit, particularly at The Gnoll, this season of yielding vital tries in the run-up to half-time and this was no different as impressive Bargoed flanker Rhys Stephens (with a name sounding thus, surely he should play for Neath ?) got a try which skipper Josh Prosser converted on the whistle.

Half-time – Neath  12 points Bargoed 7 points

 That score handed the initiative to Bargoed who came out with much more purpose in the second half and hooker Morgan Edwards capitalised on a line-out drive for a try which Prosser converted.

Mid-half in similar vein, the same combination struck again and it was 12-21. Into the wind, Neath were called upon to defend which they did manfully but Bargoed dominated the territory and the home side’s best chance came when centre Sean Wilcox and Connor Tantum linked well but the last pass went astray.

Bargoed knocked on twice on the Neath line and, as the game went into injury-time, visiting prop replacement Keiron Brown infringed and gave Neath the chance to rescue a bonus-point – Steff Williams duly obliged with a penalty to make it 15-21.

Bargoed thus completed the double over the All Blacks who could have few complaints about this second successive narrow defeat. It was Neath’s sixth league reverse of the campaign and supporters are already comparing with last season when there were seven – the All Blacks will need to improve rapidly at Sardis Road next Saturday.

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

BARGOED – D Williams; A Norton, L Yendle, M Lewis, R Thomas (C Williams); J Prosser (capt), J Leadbetter (T Thomas); K Bale (K Brown), M Edwards (J Hall), C Purnell (J Parry); J Locke (M Small), O Cooper; R Stephens (W Gregory), L Robey, K Davies (T Rice)

Referee – Mr. A Parry (Pontypool)

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