Division Two West (Central)

Neath Athletic 15 Cwmgors 14

Cwmgors were left kicking themselves after managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as Neath earned an injury-time winning try to secure the win.

The result will have proved all the more frustrating for the Cherries who performed admirably despite arriving in Neath with a squad ravaged by illness and injury.

With the likes of Steff Rees and Caron Jones out behind the scrum,the visitors were forced to shuffle the pack — Chris Jones came out to play at scrum-half while Christian Madge deputised at outside-half.

The fact the match was on at all was due to a serious work on the Athletic pitch by enthusiastic volunteers beforehand after a biblical deluge transformed the surface into a quagmire.

Lock Richard Gregg stepped up for the Cwm place-kicking duties — and he soon gave his side an early lead with a penalty.

Neath levelled, but Gregg’s second kick restored the visitors’ advantage.

The Cwm forwards adapted to the gruelling conditions better than their hosts and, from a loose maul, they manufactured the opening try which saw hooker Cerith Dennard over under the posts.

Gregg’s third penalty success gave the Cherries a deserved 11-6 lead at half-time.

Cwmgors continued to have the better of the play entering the second half, and they created a beautiful try from 50 yards out as full back Lloyd Wason snaked in and out to elude defenders and score an excellent five-pointer.

Gregg’s conversion put Cwm well in the driving seat at 18-6.

Athletic gave themselves hope with a late try.

With Cwmgors praying for the final whistle, the game went into injury time and they were finally undone when the hosts grabbed the killer score.

A consolation for the visitors came in the form of a losing bonus point, but they will have felt the game was theirs.

For Cwmgors, openside flanker Ethan Price impressed all around the pitch, while the front-row of Danny Jones, Cerith Dennard and Rhodri Rees put in an excellent shift also.

Cwmgors next face Glyncorrwg at home on Saturday.