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Baller fires Keys to vital victory

Baller fires Keys to vital victory

Cross Keys came away from The Gnoll on Friday evening with a vital bonus point victory over Neath.

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It was Kristian Baller who did the damage as he ran in a hat-trick of tries in a convincing 7-35 win. Luke Ford and Ryan James added further scores as Greg Woods’ side ran riot. 

From the start it looked as though Keys would be the only winners with their back line in particular dominating the hosts.

Ford, playing his first game since October, returned to haunt his old side as he crossed for a well worked try after just 7 minutes thanks to Rhys Dyer’s break on the half way line. Dorian Jones added the conversion and after a quarter of an hour, Baller crossed for the first of his three tries thanks to a killer long pass from the excellent Leon Andrews. Jones again added the conversion.

The Welsh All Blacks finally began to launch some attacking play but a wayward pass was intercepted by Baller who stormed away and crossed for his second try on the half hour mark.

Jones, who is really maturing with every performance, again slotted the conversion with Keys setting their sights on the all-important bonus point after half time. 

Keys began the second half in much the same fashion but conceded some possession and field position from which Neath did look threatening. However, Baller once again read the play brilliantly and was able to pick up another stray Neath pass to run 70 yards to complete his hat-trick.

Neath finally got on the scoreboard after 68 minutes with Ceri Jones crossing and Dai Langdon converting against his former side. But it was too little too late for the home side who knew they had too much to do to grasp anything from this game.

Keys had the last laugh with substitute James scoring an opportunist try with just 5 minutes remaining and fellow replacement Dean Gunter ensured a faultless kicking performance from the visitors by adding the conversion.

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