As starts to the New Year go, Neath RFC launched 2026 in as impressive and spectacular fashion as any club possibly could – an outstanding, never-say-die team performance which relieved WRU Premiership champions Merthyr of their long unbeaten record.

The Wern has been a far from a happy hunting ground for Neath – and most other clubs –  and the WRU Premiership title favourites tend to rule the roost there but the All Blacks made light of their troubles, stuck rigidly to their game-plan and ultimately emerged very worthy winners by six tries to four.

On a chilly afternoon, most games were played along the South Wales coastal belt by clubs who wanted to do so but this was one of only two Premiership games which survived the New Year’s icy blast and hardy spectators were treated to an entertaining afternoon’s rugby football and Neath – team and supporters – were especially delighted to come away with the maximum points.

From start to finish, play flashed from end-to-end with the All Blacks giving as good as they got against the settled, strong home combination who were a little off-colour. Neath exploded into action and scored the opening try just three minutes in when they attacked off an untidy line-out and centres Sam Harris and Sean Wilcox combined for the latter to cross and outside-half Paul Short added the conversion points for 7-nil.

But ten minutes later Merthyr levelled when flanker Jack Perkins touched down and outside-half Ben Jones converted before Jacob Blackmore’s line-out take, backed by more muscular forward work led to a try credited to co-lock Matthew Davies but likelier hooker Kian Jones and Paul Short converted again for 14-7.

Merthyr showed their class and power when they bagged tries through captain Paddy McBride and then centre Tom Hughes who was shown all too much room. Ben Jones converted both and Neath trailed 14-21 on the half-hour. Neath lost centre Sam Harris who left the field with a shoulder injury which allowed former Glamorgan Wanderers captain Josh Male to emerge for a very effective, direct debut.

Despite the re-shuffle, the All Blacks continued in determined mood and they enjoyed slightly the better territory of the first-half thanks to the sensible and lengthy kicking of the admirable Paul Short and full back Iestyn Morgan who frequently found advantageous landing-zones.

The forwards kept snapping away at the home team and it was little more than Neath deserved when captain Ben Williams got their third try which outside-half Paul Short converted to level affairs at half-time.

Half-time – Merthyr 21 points Neath 21 points.

 Ten minutes into the second-half, Neath –  now operating up the slope – surged ahead with a bonus-point try by flanker Casey Williams which Short converted only for Merthyr to equalise through a score by influential hooker Ellis Shipp which Ben Jones converted to make it 28-28 and still nothing to choose between the teams.

With 25 minutes still remaining, the game was very much in the balance but it was the visitors who finished stronger. Maybe match preparation was the key – Merthyr last played on December 13 while Neath ran off the Christmas excesses against Bonymaen and then had two full training-sessions. Whatsoever, the All Blacks finished in some style as they took on Merthyr at their own game and the home team’s effort finally wilted.

After Merthyr levelled, Neath regained possession from the kick off, attacked again and pummelled the home team’s try-line but flanker Gethin Tremlett was just unable to touch down.

Merthyr were forced into ever-more desperate defence which cost them skipper McBride to a yellow-card and Neath made the advantage count as the forwards rolled again and Casey Williams, squeezed over for his second and Neath’s fifth try which Short converted for 35-28.

Paul Short, well served by both scrum-hales Connor Tantum and Jacob Daniel, kept Neath’ pot boiling and there was much to admire in the front-row play of Mason Morgan, Kian Jones and Marley Lovell who beavered away tirelessly in the loose, Kian Jones’ accurate line-out throwing repeatedly found his targets too.

There could be no let-up from Neath and a couple of trademark charges by Steff Lewis helped them continue to pressurise the Merthyr line. Twice held up over it, the All Blacks did not panic and Tremlett got his reward – as did Neath – for dogged perseverance when he crossed for Neath’s sixth try which more or less settled the Welsh club win of the day.

The majority of the ten tries might have owed more to forward effectiveness than to flowing three-quarter movement but it made compelling viewing and the game was very well controlled by referee Mr. Lucas Yendle (Nelson) who hardly put a foot wrong.

To win at Merthyr where Neath were, not to put to fine a point on it, annihilated last May was a real fillip for the All Blacks. Determination to prove and improve (there is still plenty of scope for both) must be Neath’s watchword and this level of play must become Neath’s minimum standard now for 2026.

There will be no blowing of victory trumpets (their own, or anyone else’s) at The Gnoll for that is not the Neath way but there will be a quiet satisfaction at a victory well earned and, having beaten Pontypridd (twice) and Merthyr, Neath should be ignored no longer (WRU please note).

Neath must now set about improving their league lot and next week the All Blacks move on to another acid away test at Ystrad Rhondda – having established their winning template, Neath must repeat the exercise again if they are to win at another challenging venue.

MERTHYR – H Morgan-Grant (C Murphy); J Kathrens,  A  Hoskins, T Hughes, K Stone (L Crimmings); B Jones, D Land (J Soanes); T Hawkins (J Savery), E Shipp (R Hughes), R Lewis (H Rock); A Evans, P McBride (capt); D Phillips, C Lloyd (J Burke), J Perkins (F Thomas)

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

Referee – Mr L Yendle (Nelson)

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