Two tries from wing Nick Walne saw defending Welsh-Scottish League champions Cardiff earn a fifth successive victory over Neath at The Gnoll.

Walne struck first in the 35th minute when he intercepted on his own 10 metre line and sprinted clear to touch down at the posts.

That was cruel luck for the All Blacks because they had dominated proceedings up to then and were leading on the strength of a 10th-minute penalty from Welsh wing Shane Williams.

Cardiff led 7-3 at the break and with wind advantage looked capable of taking control on the back of Neil Jenkins' kicking.

He dropped a goal in the 45th minute, but Williams responded for the All Blacks two minutes later.

The pair traded penalties late in the third quarter, Cardiff leading 13-9, and then Walne showed his try-scoring prowess again.

This time former Welsh full-back Mike Rayer worked him over on the overlap - but for once fly-half Jenkins failed to land the touchline conversion.

Cardiff's South African centre Pieter Muller was shown a yellow card in the 74th minute and with the score on 18-12 Neath fly-half Patrick Horgan missed a simple penalty.

During the final exchanges Neath centre Dave Tiueti went close to scoring in the corner, but the All Blacks still have not beaten Cardiff since the 21-3 home success of December 31, 1994.

It was Neath's first home defeat in the league for 14 months.

Are Cardiff heading for the title?

Scorers - Neath: Pens: S Williams (4)

Cardiff: Tries: N Walne (2); Con: N Jenkins; Pen: Jenkins; DG: Jenkins

Teams - Neath: Morris, D Williams, D Tiueti, J Storey, S Williams, P Horgan, A Booth, D Jones, S Jones, A Millward, S Martin, G Llewellyn, N Bonner Evans, K Tuipulotu, R Francis
Replacements: A Jackson, Howell, Mathews, P Jones, R Phillips, T Davies, John

Cardiff: M Rayer, N Walne, J Robinson, P Muller, C Morgan, N Jenkins, R Powell, P Rogers, J Humphreys, G Powell, S Moore, M Voyle, G Kacala, O Williams, W Fyvie
Replacements: R Howley, R Williams, C Quinnell, Fourie, L Davies, D Baugh, E Lewis

Referee: N Whitehouse (Welsh RFU)