Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock did not mince his words when summing up his side's disastrous season.

"We are just not good enough at the moment, that's the bottom line," he said.

"But I can't fault the players and the moral, surprisingly given evrything that's going on, is excellent," Ruddock added.

Neath were always in charge of the match, despite a strong start from the home side.

Ebbw Vale were penalised early on and Shane Williams opened the scoring with a penalty for Neath.

But it was the home side that registered the first try of the match.

Full-back Paul Matthews burst into the three-quarter line and took a pass from Jason Strange to beat the defence to the corner, and Strange converted.

Scrum-half Richard Smith was given a lecture by referee Nigel Williams for interfering with play in an offside position and from the penalty Williams reduced the lead to one point.

Thomas the tank

New Welsh international prop Iestyn Thomas went like a rocket to set up a great opportunity for Ebbw and Matthews looked almost certain to get his second try, only to be knocked back from a metre out by his opposite number Gareth Morris.

Neath were then penalised and Strange put over a penalty.

Clever Neath passing put centre Dave Tiueti in possession and the Tongan showed his strength to cross over midway out, Williams converting his try to put Neath back in front.

The visiting All Blacks should have added to their try score but, after making a fine break, Tiuegi held on too long with two unmarked men outside him.

First impressions

Ebbw Vale's new flanker Stean Williams was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball.

Williams added to Neath's lead with another penalty and kicked a fourth in the last minute of the first half.

Both sides were guilty of handling errors as they struggled to assert supremacy during the third quarter.

Both full-backs, Paul Matthews of Ebbw Vale and Gareth Morris of Neath, distinguished themselves with long distance kicks down the touchlines when the pressure was on.

There was also some useful kicking for position from Tristan Davies who came on as replacement outside-half for the Welsh All Blacks.

Late Blacks burst

Tiueti at last broke the second half deadlock by steaming through and putting flanker Richard Francis over for a try, Williams adding the extra points.

Shane Williams looked likely to add a try to his penalties and conversions but the ball spun from the outside of his boot into touch when the defence was seemingly beaten.

The Welsh International winger got his try eventually when he took a well-timed pass from his centre James Storey to race under the posts, converting his own try.

Send in your post-match reaction

Scorers - Ebbw Vale: Tries: Matthews. Cons: Strange. Pens: Strange.

Neath Tries: Tiueti, S. Williams, Francis. Cons: S. Williams 3. Pens: S. Williams 4.

Teams - Ebbw Vale: P Matthews, R Shorney, S John, J Hawker, A Wagstaff, J Strange, R Smith, I Thomas, L Phillips, A Metcalfe, C Billen, D Jones, G Green, S Williams, M Jones (capt)
Replacements: D Penisini, A Peacock, N Edwards, T Morris, M Taylor, A Harries, J Williams

Neath: G Morris, D Williams, D Tiueti, J Storey, S Williams, P Horgan, A Booth, D Jones, M Davies, Howell, S Martin, G Llewellyn, R Francis, B Sinkinson, Tuipulotu
Replacements: M Davies, T Davies, S Jones, N Bonner Evans, A Jackson, P Jones, A Millward

Referee: Neil Williams (RFU)