Neath set up a mouth-watering clash against Premiership leaders Pontypridd at The Gnoll on November 30 with a hard-fought bonus-point win at Llangennech.

The All Blacks, paying their first-ever league visit to Llangennech and their first since winning a centenary game 43-7 there in 1988/89, were seeking their seventh consecutive league win.

But standing in their way were Llangennech who have achieved several notable results already this season including a win over Merthyr and a one-point defeat by Pontypridd – so Neath knew this would be a tough challenge.

The home side included several players who had played for sadly-defunct Llanelli but were missing their influential top-scorer Steff Marshall while Neath were forced into a late change bringing in fit-again Lewis Evans for Kieran Charles at centre.

For the first time since pre-season – summer-time ! – the match was played in rain and it was soon evident that a keen encounter was on the cards as the opening quarter was evenly-fought and scoreless.

The home forwards were putting up a grand fight with hooker Callum Jenkins, No.8 Jordan Saunders and captain Shaun Edwards leading the way. Lock Ryland Morgans won his share of line-out ball but so did Neath’s Matthew Davies and Cai Arnold.

Neath had plenty of doughty fighters up front too but their game lacked some of the fluency of the previous week against Bargoed. Gradually though the All Blacks got their traditional hard driving going and, midway through the half, hooker Evan Kneath forced his way over for Neath’s opening try which outside-half Steff Williams converted.

Well-drilled Llangennech retaliated immediately with a try off a line-out and driving maul, Callum Jenkins the scorer for outside-half Calum Price to level at 7-7.

Neath stepped up the pressure in the build-up to half-time, the kicking of Steff Williams and a superb 50:22 by scrum-half Rhodri Cole establishing attacking positions for the forwards to exploit. Lewis Evans was often a threat behind and co-centre Morgan Jones who impressed on debut against Bargoed went close to getting his first score for the Club.

Despite the score-line, kickable penalties were turned down and cost Neath dear when they lost possession in Llangennech’s 22 and the home side countered splendidly through wing Harrison Button who fastened onto a rare opportunity and raced to score at the opposite end for Price to convert.

Half-time – Llangennech 14 points Neath 7 points

Neath came out firing after half-time : skipper Rhodri Cole immediately increased the tempo via two quickly-taken penalties which got the All Blacks going. Forced onto the defensive, Llangennech lost winger Button to a yellow-card and Neath drove patiently only to lose the ball on the line.

They kept up the relentless pressure though – Steff Williams had an outstanding game and he put the All Blacks level at 14-14 when he arrowed across on an angled run to score wide out and he converted his own try superbly.

Neath kept up the momentum : wing Matthew Jenkins nearly got in after a Williams kick and full back Ryan Griffiths all but crossed too. So it was over to the forwards driving hard and patience was the key as prop Gareth Lloyd bundled his way over for the visitors’ third try which Williams converted to restore Neath’s lead at 21-14.

On the re-start, Neath yielded field position after two soft penalties and Llangennech responded quickly to bag a third try of their own, Callum Jenkins grabbing his second try off a well-worked line-out move but the conversion failed and it was 21-19.

But Neath were not to be denied and their fitness shone through as they finished strongly again in pursuit of both win and bonus point.

They achieved their goal as territorial dominance and forward squeeze took its decisive toll. Masterly Steff Williams planted a perfect cross kick which replacement wing Ki Morgan gathered superbly in the wet and touched down for his seventh try of the season.

Williams’ conversion took him past 100 points for the season, gave Neath breathing space at 28-19 and finally dampened Llangennech’s fire at the end of a compelling game of rugby football enjoyed by all including Director of World Rugby Phil Davies.

Neath never hit the heights of the win over Bargoed but this was a different challenge. Llangennech were every bit as organised and played with commendable spirit – so much so that Neath had to pull out all the stops.

But in the end it was worth it as victory keeps the All Blacks one point behind Pontypridd at the top of the table. And who would have thought that in mid-summer after the WRU shenanigans ?

** Next Saturday, Neath play a 50^th Anniversary game against South Gower at The Gnoll (kick off 2.30pm)

LLANGENNECH – T.M.Davies; E.Wilson, K.Evans, W.Thomas, H.Button; C.Price, G.George; I.Jones, C.Jenkins, B.Lee; J.Evans, R.Morgans; F.Cooke, J.Saunders, S.Edwards (capt)

Replacements – W.Wood  J.Edwards  T.Morgan  L.Williams  M.Pryce  R.Bassett  K.Allen  S.Hurley

NEATH – R.Griffiths; N.Orrells (K.Morgan), M.Jones, L.Evans, M.Jenkins; S.Williams, R.Cole (capt) (E.Lewis); G.W.Lloyd (T.Dabeh), E.Kneath (J.Clark), M.Morgan (J.Jones); C.Arnold (J.Blackmore), M.Davies; C.Williams (O.Morgan), M.Kneath (B.Williams), G.Tremlett

Referee – Mr. K.David (Cefn Cribbwr)

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