A strong forward performance ensured that Neath made fairly serene progress to the final of the WRU Cup as the All Blacks largely subdued a game Llanelli Wanderers side at Dunvant.

Hooker Sion Jones and lock Josh Hughes came into the Neath starting line-up while Llanelli Wanderers re-introduced former Carmarthen Quins centre Josh Batcup on a Dunvant sward which was surprisingly firm after the rains, its drying being assisted by the vicious wind of Storm Ingrid.

Neath had first use of the elements and they wasted little time in using them. Set-piece supremacy was rapidly established and, as the forwards battered and bashed, clattered and crashed their way towards the Wanderers’ line, hooker Sion Jones pounced for a sixth minute try which outside-half Paul Short converted.

Conditions dictated that play was mostly confined to the Wanderers’ quarter but on a rare attack, a neat kick by Batcup was gathered by wing Lee Watkins who scurried away for a try which shook Neath at 7-5.

It took Neath until the half-hour mark to extend their lead when Paul Short kicked a penalty and he soon added another from near half-way for 13-5.

Things improved further for the All Blacks when strong-running centre Josh Male crashed over for his first try for Neath and Paul Short’s conversion made it 20-5 – a sound advantage but the question on supporters’ lips was would it be enough with the wind to face in the second-half ?

Half-time – Llanelli Wanderers 5 points, Neath 20 points

That question would be answered in the affirmative because crucially Neath got the first score of the second-half when nifty work by scrum-half Connor Tantum led to wing Jon Bayliss skating over for Neath’s third try and it was 25-5.

The Neath forwards continued to play with the rigour and vigour which was needed to ensure that Wanderers were kept their distance and generally Neath’s gritty defence, fore and aft, repelled the wind-assisted visitors.

The hard-working front five ensured continued set-piece control – at the line-outs Wanderers struggled to win their own throw-ins and rarely challenged Neath’s while the Blacks certainly had a strong edge at the scrums.

The back-row of Steff Lewis, skipper Ben Williams and Gethin Tremlett roamed to good effect against a Wanderers side who struggled with limited possession but pulled back a try when replacement Tom Davies scored off a pass which floated forward on the wind and full back Nick Gale converted.

In desperate conditions, Neath did more than enough to keep Wanderers at bay and even threatened themselves as Ben Williams’ men played with greater control and succeeded in their quest to deny Wanderers’ ace-kicker Gale penalty-chances and he was restricted to one long-range effort which he missed.

With replacement forwards Jacob Blackmore and Casey Williams carrying strongly after coming on, there was no let-up as the All Blacks advanced to a Cup final clash with Merthyr on a date which the WRU say will be advised later this week.

** Next Saturday, it is back to the reality of the League for Neath and a home game against Llangennech which kicks off at The Gnoll at 2.30pm. Neath have never had it easy against Llangennech and it will be the same on Saturday.

LLANELLI WANDERERS – N Gale; J Hart (R Morgan), O Davies (T Davies) , J Batcup (capt), L Watkins; J George (R Harris), L Setaro (A Hemmings); K Jewell (L Ellar), D Roberts (R Owens), B Harries (G Havard); D Lewis, S Phillips; B Chiffi, C Williams, S Icke (S Morgan)

NEATH – I Morgan; M Meaclem, S Wilcox, J Male, J Bayliss; P Short (L Hawkes), C Tantum (K Davies); M Morgan (J Jones), S Jones (K Jones), M Lovell ; M Davies, J Hughes (J Blackmore); S Lewis (C Williams), B Williams (capt) G Tremlett (W Pope)   (C Thomas)

Referee – Mr Rhys Jones (Pencoed)

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