A bumper Boxing Day crowd saw Neath triumph over Championship West leaders Bonymaen who gave a very good account of themselves at The Gnoll.

A bright, sunny but cold afternoon greeted the teams and the pre-match atmosphere built nicely, the air filled with feverish rugby expectation, as the hordes wound their way into the famous old ground.

Neath took the field clad in their change white strip – numerically indecipherable much to the consternation of Lord K.K. of the Microphone – as they kicked off towards the Town end.

In an enterprising opening, both sides showed a willingness to play and Neath gradually turned up the heat leading to Bonymaen suffering a temporary reduction to 14-men for a deliberate knock-down.

After 10 minutes, a rapidly-advancing Neath scrum had Bonymaen back-pedalling and the home side moved the ball right where clever midfield hands produced the first score for Connor Tantum on the loop – it was the scrum-half’s first try of the season after injury kept him side-lined for a long spell.

Paul Short converted to make it 7-nil and Neath threatened again when the forwards piled through on a loose Bonymaen line-out in search of a second.

No.8 Tom Poole was prominent for the visitors with a couple of charges but, when the home forwards unleashed a smashing drive, the referee played a good advantage and the ball was released, spilled and retrieved neatly by Paul Short who sent wing Morgan Meaclem, in from the blind-side, for Neath’s second try and it was 12-nil.

Even so, Bonymaen were making a good fist of it and hit back when their forwards mustered a grand drive and mauled towards the line where hooker Andrew Pritchard touched down for their first try which outside-half Lawrence Thomas converted.

In the approach to half-time, Neath ought to have gone further in front but they blew two golden opportunities – missing a line-out before skipper Ben Williams broke away and kicked ahead but the ball eluded Neath chasers.

Half-time Score – Neath 12 Bonymaen 7

Bonymaen got the second-half off to a perfect start when they drew level, pulling in the Neath defence before spreading the ball left and a lovely floated pass saw young winger Levi Perry touch down in the corner.

At 12-12, Neath’s riposte was instantaneous as flanker Steff Lewis made a powerful run along the left touchline and Neath switched to the right where wing Jon Bayliss cantered in for Neath’s third try and it was 17-12.

Neath now had the bit between their teeth and another strong forward surge led to a try by hooker Kian Jones which Paul Short converted as the All Blacks extended their lead to 24-12.

But there was no letting up by Bonymaen – League points were not at stake but there was plenty of action and edge and referee Mr. Andrew Moule (Port Talbot) had to issue a couple of belated Christmas cards to warring factions.

Neath made the game safe when good work by Sam Harris and Llewellyn Hawkes took play to the brink of the Bonymaen line and replacement Will Pope, supporting like the good flanker he is, got Neath’s fifth try to make it 29-12.

The score-line flattered Neath for it was closer than that but, as both sides blooded some young replacements, Bonymaen’s tight forwards never gave up the ghost and to the end they scrummaged soundly.

In the end, Neath deserved their win for their greater cutting edge and incisiveness behind which brought them 5 tries to 2 but it had been a keenly-contested affair – just the tonic needed for Boxing Day and credit is due to all who participated and provided splendid holiday entertainment for thousands of on-lookers.

NEATH – I Morgan (L Hawkes); M Meaclem (O Clarke), S Wilcox, S Harris, J Bayliss (C Davies); P Short, C Tantum (J Daniel); M Morgan (J Jones), K Joness (M Little), M Lovell (C James); M Davies, J Blackmore; S Lewis (C Williams), B Williams (capt), G Tremlett (W Pope) (J Evans)

BONYMAEN – J Abbot; N Brooks, R Williams, H Doe, L Perry; L Thomas, G Andrew; R James, A Pritchard, L Bullock; T Herdman, J Yeates (capt); B Owen, T Poole, B Davies Repl – T Evans, L Darnell, C Connick, C Boland, J Farley, G Nkurunziza, L Milne, R Leonard, A Jones

Referee – Mr A Moule (Port Talbot)

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