Neath passed another test to confirm at least third place – and actually moved into second – in the Premiership with an efficient performance at neighbours Bonymaen who, as anticipated, gave it their all.

There was a lot riding on this game and the All Blacks made six changes, mostly enforced, from the starting line-up which did so well at Cardiff Metropolitan a week earlier.

They knew that this would be a difficult hurdle with Bonymaen seeking to follow up their impressive win over Brecon the previous week and scrapping for their lives at the other end of the table – and so it proved.

Outside-half Steff Williams lined up for his 100th appearance in a Neath shirt and full back Iestyn Morgan was making his 50th appearance. Connor Tantum was honoured with the captaincy for the first time while winger Ki Morgan appeared on the bench for the first time since Christmas.

In perfect conditions, the home side made the early running and led 6-nil through two Lawrence Thomas penalties – the first straightforward, the second beautifully struck from near halfway.

Home supporters were buoyant although the rugby football was too compelling for many to heed the repeated calls to make use of the outside bar.

In between, the All Blacks lost flanker Owain Morgan with a serious-looking knee injury so captain Ben Williams’ planned rest lasted approximately four minutes. Fortunately, Neath’s skipper came on and proceeded to play a blinder as a sweeper when Bonymaen had the use of the wind in the first-half.

The tackles thundered in from both sides on a hard pitch – clean, tough stuff with no quarter asked nor given – and Neath served notice of their intent when full back Iestyn Morgan freed winger Rhodri Wall who was thwarted on the line.

Neath conceded too many penalties – two of which Thomas bombed – and as a consequence struggled to get their game going; when they did they looked threatening and it was the visitors who claimed the first try when Ben Williams floated a pass out to the left wing and Isetyn Morgan’s support line saw him cross.

The All Blacks began to get their game going, Bonymaen’s discipline slipped and it came as no surprise when patient work by the forwards led to Jon Bayliss, playing at centre, crashing over under the posts for their second try which outside-half Steff Williams added the easy conversion points.

Half-time – Bonymaen 6 points, Neath 12 points

Neath wasted little time in adding to their lead in the second half. After good work by the All Black forwards, a loose Bonymaen kick found only Neath left wing Matthew Jenkins who swung the ball in-field where his team-mates were waiting and, quick as a flash, right wing Rhodri Wall crossed in the opposite corner for Neath’s third try.

Steff Williams’ well-judged conversion from wide out made it 19-6 to the visitors who lost scrum-half Connor Tantum with an ankle injury.

Bonymaen had a mountain to climb and they hit back when Thomas landed a third goal but, by now, the Neath forwards were imposing themselves with hooker Kian Jones’ accurate throwing in ensuring that the line-out functioned effectively and the forwards drove relentlessly with No.8 Morgan Kneath often to the fore.

A series of attacks saw Bonymaen desperately concede penalties and on the half hour Neath collected their fourth, bonus-point try –  a second for Rhodri Wall who was twice involved in the movement after a kick rebounded to Matthew Jenkins. Again, Steff Williams converted to pass his 200 points for the season and it was 26-9.

The All Blacks came close to adding to their tally on the left and in the middle while live-wire hooker Jones was held up in the right corner and the pressure was sustained after Neath mass-replaced the hard-working Mason Morgan, Ben Uphill, Matthew Davies and Gethin Tremlett.

With news coming in from Newcastle Emlyn about relegation-rivals Narberth’s prowess, Bonymaen knew it was now or never. They worked a try in the right corner for centre Steff Pryce-Griffiths and came again in search of a vital bonus-point but it was not to be.

Their fate will probably hinge on their last game at home to Merthyr – but they know what they must do !

As for Neath, despite the high penalty count, they could reflect upon a reasonably efficient performance and Pontypridd’s shook defeat at Ystrad Rhondda has seen the All Blacks rise to second in the table ahead of Wednesday’s game … at Ponty !

Whatsoever, both sides are guaranteed at least a third place finish and the top of the  table now reads :-

                                                  P        W       D        L         For    Agst          Points

Merthyr                                       21       19       0        2      1051      354        97

NEATH                                        22       17       1        4        663     466        86

Pontypridd                                  22       17       0        5        728     412        86

Bargoed                                      22       14       1        7        608     475        73

Brecon                                        24       11       1        12       683     684        62

BONYMAEN – L Thomas; S Jones (L Darnell), S Pryce-Griffiths, H Doe, S Clancy (I Kneath) ; C Setter, G Andrew (D Brooks); R James (J Farley), Z Pearce (A Jones), L Bullock (G Nkurunziza); O Davies (L Ward), J Yeates; B Davies (R Leonard), B Owen, A Pritchard (capt)

NEATH – I Morgan; M Jenkins, J Bayliss, S Wilcox, R Wall (K Morgan) ; S Williams, C Tantum (capt) (E Lewis) ; M Morgan ( R Taylor), K Jones, B Uphill (E Hopkins); M Davies, J Blackmore (J Barley) ; O Morgan (B Williams), Dr M Kneath, G Tremlett (D Ceredig)  Rested :  J Clark

Referee – Mr J Rees (Tycroes)

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