Neath were well beaten on their visit to Sardis Road on Saturday when the home side collected a well-deserved 7 tries to 3 victory.

From the moment that home wing Chad Davies profited from a Neath defensive error for the first try and outside-half Logan Jones converted, the All Blacks were on a loser and the home team constructed a 17-nil lead as Davies collected his second when Neath failed to handle an inside pass and then scrum-half Joel Raikes skipped away for the third try.

Neath opened their account when the forwards rolled back the Pontypridd defenders and hooker Sion Jones pounced for a try but the home side got a bonus point when lock Lloyd Riley touched down and, although Neath swept back on to the attack, a not straight at a line-out thwarted their hopes of reducing the leeway.

Half-time – Pontypridd 24 points Neath 5 points

Pontypridd started the second-half as they had left off the first and Logan Jones just made it to the touchdown off his own kick and he converted but Neath gathered themselves and centre Luke Davies crossed for a try which Steff Williams (who had moved to outside-half at half-time) goaled.

Neath fought harder in the second-half but Pontypridd struck again through centre Tom Morgan, Logan Jones converting. The All Blacks rallied a little and got a third try when replacement hooker Kian Jones scored, Steff Williams converting, but on the final whistle Neath conceded another when home centre Tom Richards took advantage of a nice bounce and Jones’ conversion rebounded off the upright.

On what became a difficult day for Neath, Marley Lovell’s team fired only sporadically although scrum-half Dion Jones again showed to good effect, it was good to see Casey Williams getting his first full 80 minutes while the some of the replacements – especially Kamren Harris and the energetic Mason Hughes – injected life into the effort.

With Neath having a bye in the Cup, there is no game next Saturday so head coach Tim Ryan will be keen to use the two – or even three – training-sessions to start rectifying some of the team’s problems which the All Blacks need to do if they are to recover the ground lost in the opening month.

PONTYPRIDD – R Wyatt; C Davies, T Richards, T Morgan (R Smith), D Stuckey (E Williams); L Jones, J Raikes (M Greenaway); D Barratt (D Cottrell), A James (C Manship), L Tobias (C Harris); M Barnard (L McIntosh), L Riley; Cai James, J Miles, Cally James (capt) (J Thomas)

NEATH – S Williams; M Meaclem, W Hepher, L Davies, L Barron; R Callaghan (I Morgan), D Jones (C Tantum); M Morgan (K Harris), S Jones (K Jones), M Lovell (capt); J Phillips (R Barrow), M Davies (B Thomas); W Pope (Mason Hughes), C Williams, G Tremlett   Repl. (J de Lloyd)

Referee – Mr M Caudle (Llantwit Fardre)

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