Neath team manager Martyn Morris hailed the attitude and will to win of the Blacks in their 14-12 warm-up win over Moseley on Friday.

The former Wales flanker said, “I thought the whole team showed tremendous spirit and no little skill in digging out that win.

“Of course, it is early days and the really important stuff is ahead of us but the game was no soft option.
“Moseley were a big, physical and powerful team but we tackled them to a stand-still, had the better of the scrums and showed plenty of ambition behind even on a wet night.

“I won’t single out individuals because it was a real team effort. The established players are maturing, beginning to understand the responsibility that comes with being a Neath player and the newcomers acquitted themselves equally as well and played their hearts out.

“We have been seeking players with resilience – in my day we called it ‘mental toughness’ – players who stick in there and see it through and it was a joy to see it on Friday.

“I felt we were good value for the win and the large number of supporters who turned up for a pre-season game seem to have gone home happy with a real Neath performance. There were some faces we haven’t seen for a while so it looks as if the Town is beginning to get behind us again.

“Friday was a benchmark performance but we are about raising standards and, with players still to come back, that is what we intend to do.”

** NEATH’s PREMIERSHIP season kicks off on Saturday August 26th at 7:30pm at The Gnoll vs Swansea RFC with further home games scheduled for September against RGC (9th) and Llanelli (23rd). Season tickets are still available and cover all home Premiership matches. (See website for details)