There are still seven games to play, but their 22nd defeat in 23 games in the Principality Premiership this season means they cannot now get enough points to climb out of the bottom four and will be one of the team automatically relegated to the WRU National Championship next season.
It has been a tumultuous season for the Welsh All Blacks, arguably the most challenging in the club’s proud 147 year history, and their fate was sealed by their latest loss on home soil. The inaugural Premiership champions in 1991, Neath have won the title in its different guises a record seven times.
But now they will have to consolidate off the field before mounting an assault on the Championship to try to make a quick-fire return to the top.
RGC made the perfect start with Aaron Evans crossing for their opening try after some nice hands from his inside backs. His fellow wing Sam Jones was next on the scoresheet as he showed his pace to get over at the corner.
Inside centre Delwyn Jones then powered his way over from short-range at the stroke of half time to give Mark Jones’ side a commanding 19-0 lead at the interval. Callum Hall pulled three back for Neath but Iolo Evans put the result beyond doubt with the visitors’ fourth try after hitting an incisive line to score.
Neath finally crossed the whitewash with Ifan James scoring after a period of sustained pressure from the hosts. But it was a mere footnote as Neath were condemned to the drop with seven games to spare.
Meanwhile the battle is now on for those clubs desperate to avoid joining Neath in the Championship next season. Bridgend secured a vital 31-11 bonus-point win in their clash with fellow strugglers Bargoed at the Brewery Field.
That made it three wins in their last four outings for Matt Silva’s men, who took a two-point advantage into the interval. After a cagey opening 15 minutes the deadlock was broken when Ravens scrum-half Chris Williams dived over for the opening try.
Josh Prosser narrowed Bargoed’s deficit before the break with a penalty and, when the game resumed, a second penalty from the outside half put the visitors ahead. Falling behind woke Bridgend up and lock Ben Jones crossed after more than 20 phases and Owen Howe converted. Still Bargoed refused to go away.
Duane Dyer crossed after collecting a kick, but when Adam Coupe was yellow carded for the visitors for repeated infringements, Bridgend pulled away. Captain Nathan Edwards put the hosts further clear before replacement back Caine Woolerton added the crucial fourth try and substitute scrum-half Connor Tantum completed the scoring.
Llandovery moved up two places to fourth as they hit back from a 10 point deficit to pick up a priceless 25-24 away win at Eugene Cross Park.
Rhys Jones kicked the Steelmen into an early lead and then converted a try from back row dynamo Owen Young to give his side a 10 point lead inside six minutes. It was the perfect start to their bid to move back into the top three, but by half-time the Drovers had driven them back.
Kris Jones kicked two penalties and also converted a try from hooker Ricky Guest. Then prop Jamie Hughes added a second try on the stroke of half-time, shortly after James Lewis had been sent to the bin, to give the visitors an 18-10 interval lead.
Seven minutes after the re-start the Drovers’ centre Rhodri Jones skipped away for a third try and Kris Jones’ conversion made it 25 points without reply. But that wasn’t the end of the matter, far from it.
Ebbw skipper Ashley Sweet drove over for a try that Rhys Jones improved and then six minutes from time hooker Joe Franchi was driven over for a try after the visitors had lost lock Joseff Powell to a yellow card for dragging down a maul. Jones added the conversion to make it a one point game.
A hat-trick of tries from J Rhys Williams inspired Swansea to a bonus-point victory over Newport at St Helen’s – their ninth in a row at home. The outside half helped himself to 22 of his side’s points with hooker Ifan Phillips also going over.
Williams got the scoreboard ticking with a penalty after seven minutes and was over for the first of his three tries five minutes later after charging down an attempted clearance from opposite number Matt O’Brien inside the visiting 22.
That was the way it stayed until four minutes before the break when the hosts extended their lead and again it was Williams the scorer following a period of sustained pressure. This time he did convert as Swansea took a 15-0 lead into the break.
Phillips then got himself on the scoresheet on 61 minutes with the try unconverted and, 10 minutes later, Swansea were celebrating again as Williams found a gap in the visitors’ defence following a lineout and dived over to complete his treble and secure maximum points. He also kicked his second conversion.
Newport did eventually get themselves on the scoresheet a minute from time with their unconverted consolation try scored by back-rower Josh Skinner. The win for Swansea avenged their 9-3 reverse at Rodney Parade back in November.
