Dale McIntosh’s men had to defend for their lives at the end when they were reduced to 13 men with two yellow cards for repeat infringements. Neath hit back from 14 points down in the second half to cut the deficit to seven points thanks to a Ryan Griffiths try that Steff Williams improved.
Neath took the lead with a Kieran Charles try which Williams converted and the visiting outside half then swapped penalties with opposite number James Dixon. Tom Davies crossed for a try that Dixon converted to make it 10-10, Neath hit back to lead 17-10 and it was 20-17 at the break to the home side.
Matthew Williams and wing Sam Jones crossed for further tries, while Ben Williams crossed for Neath. Steff Williams added the extras to that score, and it was anyone’s game going into the second half.
But a try from Chad Davies and a conversion and two more penalties from Dixon sent Brecon racing ahead before the Griffiths score at the death.
Jordan Howells was the hero for Bargoed at Cardiff Met as his try in the final few minutes turned what looked being a 23-20 defeat into a 27-12 triumph. It was the Bulls third try of the game after prop Lewis Jones and flanker Lewis Johnson had scored in a first half that saw the visitors lead 17-3.
Matthew Lewis kicked 12 points to keep Bargoed in the hunt in the game that saw the students’ level at 20-20 and then take the lead with two penalties from Tom Howlett.
Cross Keys skipper Corey Nicholls grabbed two of his side’s seven tries in their 47-11 home win over Llangennech. The visitors took an early lead with a Willis Wood try and two penalties from Steff Marshall, but a brace from fullback Ralph Miller and others from Tom Burnham, Tom Sullivan and James Smith completed the job for Keys.
League leaders Merthyr were awarded a walkover against Newcastle Emlyn, while last season’s Champions East winners Narberth came out on top against Bonymaen 28-22 to notch their first win of the season with tries from Jac Bennett, Josh Hamer and Hedd Nicholas and 13 points from the boot of Jonathan Rogers.
