The WRU Premiership resumed after a three-week break and Neath continued their winning ways with a bonus-point victory over Llanelli Wanderers at The Gnoll.

Conditions worsened following an early morning pitch inspection but The Gnoll drainage was up to the task again although, if weather for the last home game against The Fijians’  was south seas, this time it was more south Atlantic.

A team called ‘Llanelly Wanderers’ played at Neath in 1887 and lost by two tries to one but this was the modern day Llanelli side’s first visit to The Gnoll – and they gave a good enough impression of themselves to suggest that Neath will have their work cut out when the two teams meet again in the Cup semi-final next month.

Wanderers had first advantage of the elements and, with ace goal-kicker Nick Gale regularly banging over the kicks, Neath simply could not shake off the determined Llanelli side and, in the end, the All Blacks were happy to collect the five points.

After a bright opening by Neath, Wanderers – these days the number one club in Llanelli town – took the lead when they re-cycled the ball efficiently and prop Gareth Havard charged over for the game’s first try and Gale added the conversion points for nil-7.

Neath hit back when alert scrum-half Jacob Daniels took a quick tap and his quick-thinking led to a try by fit-again centre Sean Wilcox which made it 5-7 before Gale nudged the visitors further ahead with two penalties : the first direct from the re-start and via the right upright; the second from a good 40 metres.

Midway through the half, Neath were trailing 5-13 but, ominously for the visitors, the All Blacks’ forwards were  warming to their task with locks Steff Lewis and Matthew Davies particularly effective.

Mason Morgan, Kian Jones and Marley Lovell provided a solid base and, from a scrum penalty, redoubtable flanker Casey Williams worked his way over for Neath’s second try which outside-half Paul Short converted and there was only a point in it.

Neath’s line-out, if not functioning absolutely perfectly, was dominant and it worked well enough to create the home team’s third try when skipper Ben Williams did the tidying work for flanker Gethin Tremlett to mark his 50th appearance for the Club and Neath were in the lead for the first time.

On the stroke of half-time, Gale again hit the woodwork from fully 55 metres but this time the ball rebounded into play.

Half-time – Neath 17 pts  Llanelli Wanderers 13 points

With the wind now in their favour, Neath fell behind ten minutes into the second-half when visiting centre Johnny George split Neath’s defensive system all too easily to cross for Wanderers’ second try and Gale converted to make it 17-20.

Conditions were deteriorating but Neath continued to make solid progress through their forwards who were always on top without doing enough to nail the crucial scores.

Neath dominated territorially but too often the final touch was lacking and it was not until midway through the half that the home team nosed in front again when a line-out catch and drive advanced at speed and was joined by the backs and centre Sam Harris got Neath’s fourth – and bonus-point – try.

Neath’s 22-20 lead was precarious to say the least and almost immediately it was overturned when Gale landed his third penalty.

The Neath forwards re-asserted themselves and continued to press and five minutes from time home advantage was restored. Replacement Jacob Blackmore made an instant impression and, when Wanderers infringed once too often in their quest to hold up the Neath eight, young referee Mr. Harvey Purnell (Blackwood) correctly awarded a penalty try and yellow-carded the transgressor.

Six points to the good, Neath were neither home nor dry (literally !) but they were content to play out the little time remaining without further incident.
It was not Neath at their best but ultimately five points on a rain-sodden day was more than their rivals achieved and a satisfactory return – but the All Blacks know they must sharpen up and, with the Cup game looming, they cannot afford to give Wanderers too many chances.

NEATH  I Morgan; M Meaclem, S Wilcox, S Harris, J Bayliss (TJ Hayden); P Short, J Daniel (C Tantum); M Morgan (J Jones), K Jones (T Richards), M Lovell (B Uphill); M Davies, S Lewis (J Hughes); C Williams (J Evans), B Williams (capt), G Tremlett (J Blackmore)

LLANELLI WANDERERS – L Jones; J Hart, N Gale J George, L Watkins; R Harris (R Morgan), L Setaro (A Hemmings); L Ellar (D Howells), R Owens (capt) (D Roberts), G Havard (B Harries); T Huntley (B Phillips), D Lewis (S Williams); B Chiffi, L Clayton, S Icke (L Giannini)

Referee – Mr H Purnell (Blackwood)

* Due to the odd number of teams in the Premiership, Neath have an ill-timed blank next Saturday but will next be in action on Saturday, December 20 when Cardiff Metropolitan (beaten just 10-17 at Pontypridd on Saturday) visit The Gnoll (kick off 2.30pm)

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