NEATH got their 2024/25 season off to a very impressive start when they ran in nine tries, seven converted, against a game Cambrian Welfare side who never gave up.

The rising Rhondda Valley club, paying their first visit to Neath, were given a warm reception by an appreciative pre-season crowd on a warm evening and the rugby was … well, warm too.

Neath ran the rule over a number of new or newish faces. Behind the scum Rhodri Wall, James Dixon and Rhodri Cole showed their Premiership acumen while Dan Watkins and Sam Gardner enjoyed strong first games up front.

Cambrian Welfare fielded their strongest side which the previous week had held Cross Keys to 7-7 at half-time until making a number of replacements and eventually going under 7-40.

Despite holiday calls, a healthy crowd was present and saw the All Blacks start strongly. Quick out of the blocks, Neath went ahead after five minutes when grand work by Rhodri Cole, assisted by lock Jacob Blackmore led to centre Kieran Charles speeding away for a fine try which full back Steff Williams converted for 7-nil.

Two minutes later Rhodri Cole marked his return home when he nipped over from a quickly-taken penalty and the hobbling Steff Williams converted superbly from wide out on the left to make it 14-nil.

Those two quick-fire scores rather took the steam out of the visitors who nevertheless looked well coached and organised by Matt Llewellyn and Ashley Copic and they gave Neath plenty to think about.

Midway through the half, one of several eye-catching charges by No.8 Sam Gardner (who ultimately won him the Supporters’ Man of the Match award) helped pave the way for Neath’s third try as they again stretched the defence for winger Llewellyn Hawkes to score, Williams converted and it was 21-nil.

Neath were in command and their fourth try was sheer rugby poetry : back-ball at a lineout saw the backs move expertly right and then left and a defence-splitting run by impressive centre Kieran Charles saw him speed away for his second try.

26-nil down, Cambrian Welfare were not rolling over and they established a couple of promising positions which took all of Neath’s committed defence to repel. No.8 Liam Jones was a big influence up front as were the trio of Huntleys behind.

But Neath were decidedly sharper with ball in hand and, on the attack again, outside-half James Dixon profited with his first touchdown for the club and Steff Williams converted so it was 33-nil.

Just before half-time the opening ’bout’ of the season led to two yellow cards being produced by referee Mr. Elfyn Morris-Roberts (Swansea Valley) who had to be at his best to keep a tight rein on affairs.

Half-time score : Neath 33 points Cambrian Welfare nil.

Resisting the urge to make immediate second-half changes, Neath took only two minutes post-interval to add their sixth try, a composed handling movement leading to a second try of the evening for Rhodri Cole, Steff Williams adding his fifth conversion to raise the 40 points.

In the 52nd minute, Neath plotted their course to a line-out five-metres out and good work by the pack led to prop Jack Powell crossing for the seventh and this time James Dixon added the points to make it 47-nil.

Two minutes later, Neath struck again and it was a very stylish effort too as flanker Gethin Tremlett was twice involved in a pretty debut try by Resolven three-quarter Nathan Orrells whose father Andrew played hooker for the Blacks in the 1990’s. James Dixon’s conversion extended the lead to 54-nil

Replacements were arriving thick and fast by now and Neath topped their effort when Llewellyn Hawkes, now at full back, gratefully received a loose kick, linked with replacement wing Ki Morgan of Skewen and young Orrells sped away for his second try- Neath’s ninth – which went unconverted.

To their credit, despite having two players stretchered off, Cambrian kept playing to the end and it took a couple of scrambling tackles by the lock-tight Neath’s defence to stop them scoring.

Coach Tim Ryan was well pleased with the performance and said, “It was just what we wanted. Everybody contributed and it was a reward for the hard work we have done so far – I’ve got a lot of selection headaches now.”

All told, a very promising first outing and Neath are next in action against Swansea at The Gnoll on Thursday evening (kick off 7.15pm)

NEATH – S.Williams; L.Hawkes, R.Wall, K.Charles, R.Griffiths; J.Dixon, R.Cole; J.Powell, E.Kneath, T.Dabeh; D.Watkins, J.Blackmore; B.Williams (capt), S.Gardner, G.Tremlett

Replacements – K.Jones, M.Thomas, B.Uphill, M.Davies, O.Rice, C.Williams, M.Kneath, E.Lewis, M.Jenkins, N.Orrells, K.Morgan

CAMBRIAN WELFARE – E.Dunning; I.Chedzoi, J.Owen, Jackson Huntley, C.Hopkins; Jonah Huntley, Julian Huntley; C.Jones, T.Hendy, C.Cross; C.Thomas, L.Matthews; M.Jones, L.Jones, T.Dunning Replacements – M.Beech, G.Wood, K.Williams, T.Davies, C.Jones, P.Radford, J.Richards, T.Roberts, C.Clarke, J.Pritchard, L.Raymond, J.Roberts

Referee – Mr. E.Morris-Roberts (Swansea Valley)

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