The primeval chant of ‘Neath, Neath, Neath’ once again rang loud and proud around the stands at the home of Welsh rugby as the inaugural winners of the WRU Challenge Cup came up trumps again with a remarkable 32-21 triumph against the odds over Merthyr in the WRU Premiership final.
Only once this season had the Ironmen had their colours lowered and that had been at home against the men in black from The Gnoll.
While Merthyr came in as red-hot favourites against an injury ravaged Neath side they simply couldn’t handle the physical ferocity generated throughout a spectacular second half performance by Ben Williams’ side.
The Neath skipper and No 8 was named as the Go Compare Man of the Match for his non-stop part in a game which was turned on its head by a second half performance that saw Neath score 20 points and Merthyr nil.
It meant Merthyr’s hopes of a league and cup double to crown their 150th anniversary season were shattered, while Neath picked up the cup for a magnificent seventh time in their 14th final.
It was a fitting way to end a wonderful day of community rugby in the first of three weekends of finals at the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’ series.
Neath drew first blood with a try from hooker Sion Jones shortly after Merthyr had lost skipper Paddy McBride to a head knock and a yellow cad in the fifth minute. Iestyn Morgan converted.
But the response from Merthyr was ferocious and three tries flowed from the Ironmen before the break as they raced into a 21-12 lead. Flanker Dan Phillips fullback Jack Kathrens and centre Cole Swannack all raced over the Neath line and Ben Jones converted all three of them.
After large periods of the opening 40 minutes being spent inside their own 22, the Welsh All Blacks eventually reduced the deficit to nine points following winger Kaden Davies crossing in the corner. That indicated a swing in momentum and Neath rode the crest of that wave into the second half.
Neath carried their late positivity in attack at the end of the first half into the third quarter and were so cruelly denied a third try when inspirational skipper Williams was held up over the line.
They did eventually reduce the deficit after 48 minutes. Merthyr were penalised for being offside, and Morgan kicked the penalty to make it very interesting at 21-15. Before the hour mark the lead was narrowed to just one point when Bayliss crossed in the corner for Neath’s third try.
Morgan was unable to slot the extras, but in the space of a couple of minutes Neath hit the front again after the Ironmen were reduced to 13 men with No 8 Aled Evans and then prop Jamie Savery picking up yellow cards.
Evans went for a head high tackle and Savery was punished for pulling down a driving line out maul that also ended in a penalty try. All of a sudden Neath held a six-point advantage with 18 minutes to go.
Merthyr were now chasing the game and scrum half Jack Hoskins attempted to keep a kick deep into the corner in play and only succeeded in scooping it back over his line to allow Llewellyn Hawkes to pounce for a sucker score that secured the title.
Scorers: Neath: Tries: Sion Jones, Kaden Davies, Jon Bayliss, Llewellyn Hawkes; Cons: Iestyn Morgan 2; Pen: Iestyn Morgan. Merthyr: Tries: Dan Phillips, Jack Kathrens, Cole Swannack; Cons: Ben Jones 3.
TEAMS
Neath: Luke Davies; Jon Bayliss, Sean Wilcox, Aled Davies, Kaden Davies; Iestyn Morgan, Connor Tantum; Mason Morgan, Sion Jones, Marley Lovell, Matthew Davies, Jon Barley, Steff Lewis, Gethin Tremlett, Ben Williams (captain)
Reps: Kian Jones, Josh Jones, Chris Thomas, Josh Hughes, Jacob Blackmore, Llewellyn Hawkes, Aled Davies, Casey WilliamsMerthyr: Jack Kathrens; Joseff Jones, Cole Swannack, Tom Hughes, Kodie Stone; Ben Jones, Adam Hoskins; Travis Hawkins, Ryan Hughes, Rhys Lewis, Paddy McBride (captain), Craig Locke, Daniel Phillips, Jack Perkins, Aled Evans
Reps: Ellis Shipp, Jamie Savery, Harrison Rock, Tom Offa, Finley Thomas, Zacery Lynam, Jacob Lloyd, Harry Morgan-GrantReferee: Gareth Newman (Abergavenny)
GO COMPARE MAN OF THE MATCH
