It was high fives all round for Neath at Cyncoed – five tries, five points and a fifth consecutive win as the All Blacks overcame a talented Cardiff Metropolitan side in an entertaining Premiership tie where skill levels compared favourably with what was going on down the road in the city centre.

Cardiff Metropolitan have a vast pool of very good rugby footballers and were at strength for this game although there was an eeriness about the Cyncoed campus which was closed for Easter – much to the dismay of under-nourished (and thirsty !) Neath supporters, even the canteen was shut so a case of education cuts not biting ?

Supporters respectfully joined a minute’s applause and balloon release in memory of student Olivia Williams before the game got underway. The home side started well when Neath conceded an early penalty and from a line-out on the visiting 22, a very well-rehearsed and executed move produced a try for winger Dylan Scott who took an inside pass to coast over for the opening try.

That early shock provoked a strong response from Neath and a series of powerful drives began the softening up process. Kickable penalties were spurned for scrums and, after two advancing scrums on the home line were reset with a third award imminent, scrum-half Connor Tantum fired a pass to centre Kieran Charles who crashed over for a try which outside-half Steff Williams converted and it was 7-5.

Midway through the half, Cardiff Metropolitan bit back with a splendid second try by Scott as the homesters outwitted the Neath defence but the All Blacks responded instantly. A kind bounce off a long Steff Williams kick gave Neath position and the forwards did the rest as hooker Josh Clark peeled away for Neath’s second try which Williams goaled magnificently and it was 14-10 to Neath.

The All Blacks kept up the pressure with the forwards carrying hard and tackling equally as mightily when called upon to do so and the backs handling inventively. Mason Morgan, Matthew Davies and the back row as a unit revelled in the keen exchanges.

Their sustained attacks brought reward – the Neath scrum was strong throughout and skipper Ben Williams looked as if he had dabbed down; a reset was ordered, Neath advanced again and excellent referee Mr. Rhys Jones had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try. Such scores are always awarded anonymously for collective effort and Neath certainly had that at 21-10 !

The All Blacks were playing some good stuff and when lock Jacob Blackmore won clean line-out ball, clever midfield skills ended in Kieran Charles looping around to skip in at the right corner for his second try (his tenth of the season) and Steff Williams’ superb conversion put Neath 28-10 to the good.

Half-time was nigh when more direct work by the forwards afforded another opportunity and Kieran Charles fired out a long pass to winger Rhodri Wall who finished with aplomb for Neath’s fifth try of the half which went unconverted.

Half-time – Cardiff Metropolitan 10 points, Neath 33 points

Supporters were still purring when Neath made two interval replacements as hooker Josh Clark and tight head Tarik Dabeh made way having contributed to a strong scrum effort.

The second-half did not match the first in terms of try-scoring but it was every bit as intriguing. Neath’s re-arranged scrum conceded a penalty and Cardiff Metropolitan scored early on when the impressive No.8 Charlie Ward crossed from a quickly-taken penalty and outside-half Tom Howlett converted to make it 33-17.

Thereafter, it was a case of thrust and counter-thrust as two eager defences prevented any further scoring. Cardiff Metropolitan did their utmost to conjure a score but Neath’s spirit for the battle kept them at bay.

Neath had their chances at the other end and were denied a try when Connor Tantum’s inside pass to supporting full back Iestyn Morgan went forward while a couple of big line-out drives came to nothing as did the subsequent attacks as Cardiff Metropolitan’s defence proved every bit as resolute as Neath’s.

Both Neath’s outside replacements wingers Nathan Orrells and Matthew Jenkins earned themselves yellow cards – the former for an ill-timed airborne challenge, the latter for a deliberate knock-on – but Neath shrugged off their numerical deficiency with replacements Jon Barley and Dr. Morgan Kneath making several telling contributions.

All in all, this was a very effective display by Neath against a good Cardiff Metropolitan side and one more push will see the All Blacks assured of third place.

But that will not be easy as next Saturday Neath travel to Parc Mawr to play redoubtable Bonymaen (kick off 2.30pm) who gave themselves a chance of avoiding relegation with a splendid 43-28 win over Brecon so the All Blacks will need to be fully focussed.

Top of the Premiership              P        W       D        L         For    Agst          Points

Merthyr                                       20       18       0        2      1003      330        92

Pontypridd                                  21       17       0        4        702     373        85

NEATH                                        21       16       1        4        637     452        81

Bargoed                                      21       13       1        7        579     456        68

CARDIFF MET – I Marsh; D Scott (M Bonds), J Statton, C Johnson (T Evans), R Williams; T Howlett, H Rice (M Van Hilst); B Murphy (W Pearce), G Merritt (D Manaseitava), A Wakefield (O Davies); G Cannon, R Cozens; O Wiseman (C Davies), C Ward, J Hart (M Bridge)

NEATH – I Morgan; J Bayliss, S Wilcox, K Charles (M Jenkins), R Wall (N Orrells); S Williams, C Tantum (E Lewis);  M Morgan (J Jones), J Clark (K Jones), T Dabeh (B Uphill); M Davies, J Blackmore (J Barley); C Williams, B Williams (capt) (M Kneath), G Tremlett

Referee – Mr Rhys Jones (Pencoed)

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