In what was a hard-fought encounter, Steff Williams’ drop goal just before the half-hour mark gave the home side a narrow 3-0 advantage at the break.
Experienced Rhodri Cole, on as a replacement at scrum-half, soon got Neath on the front foot after the re-start and, from a lineout drive, were soon over for their first try, scored by hooker Evan Kneath and converted by outside half Williams.
Neath wasted little time in adding a second try; another replacement, Jacob Blackmore, won clean lineout ball and eventually led to full-back Iestyn Morgan touching down and Steff Williams again converting from out wide.
Young winger Nathan Orrells added a third try – his seventh try of the season – after a sweeping passing move, which went unconverted.
The win took Neath a point above Merthyr ahead of the clash between the sides at the Wern on Saturday. Leaders Pontypridd, who are not in action on Saturday, currently lead Neath by five points and Merthyr by six. Merthyr have a game in hand on the top two.
