Bridgend finally nailed their inability to hold on to a lead with a deserved victory over Neath in a sizzling encounter at the Brewery Field.

The home side had lost substantial advantages to Cardiff, Newport and Llanelli earlier in the season, damaging thier hopes of qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup.

Neath launched a sustained onslaught late in the game, but despite a James Storey try with nine minutes to go, they could not break down a tiring Bridgend defence.

Bridgend had dominated a blistering first-half going in 23-8 at the interval, but were indebted to Gareth Jones' try ten minutes after the break - their only score of the second-half.

It was a second-half which did not quite live up to the blistering pace of the first 40 minutes, but still had passages of breathtakingly quick running rugby.

Craig Warlow and Adrian Durston combined during that period with devastating effect for Bridgend, giving them the cushion to withstand Neath's late charge.

Scintilating

Warlow opened the scoring for the Ravens with a drop goal after just one minute before Durston crossed for the opening try five minutes later.

His outside-half colleague made a telling half break and slipped the ball back inside to the impressive centre who had the pace to beat Wales wing Shane Williams to the line.

Williams, playing at full-back for Neath, had a nervous opening period, spilling a huge up and under from Warlow which allowed Tongan flanker Maama Molitika to cross for Bridgend's second try after 18 minutes.

But Neath hit back after a passage of scintilating play.

Shane Williams took the outside after Bridgend ran out of defenders to cross in the left corner to add to his earlier penalty.

Bridgend's supporters were left wondering if their side would once again blow it right at the beginning of the second-half.

Tank-like

Shane Williams scored his second try with a beautiful 'Campese' shuffle to beat Bridgend's desperate defenders to narrow the scores to 23-13.

But then came the crucial moment.

Durston and Warlow again came to the fore with the former floating a delicate lobbed pass to Warlow who tipped a fingered ball to full-back Cull.

He drew the covering defenders to ship the ball to tank-like winger Gareth Jones who beat the covering Delme and Shane Williams with a flambuoyant dive in the corner.

Cull was again involved with a fantastic tackle on Delme Williams to haul the winger down just inches from the Bridgend line soon after, but despite that late James Storey try, Neath did not have enough to snatch victory from a jubilant home side.

Scorers - Bridgend: Tries: Durston, Molitika, G Jones. Con: Warlow 2. Pen: Cull 2. Drop Goals: Warlow.

Neath: Tries: S Williams 2, Storey. Pen: S Williams.

Bridgend: G Cull, G Jones, J Devereux, A Durston, D Jones, C Warlow, H Harries (capt), A Griffiths, C Ferris, L Mustoe, P Clapham, C Stephens, M Molitika, J Ringer, R Bryan.
Replacements: O Lloyd, B Baker, S van Rensburg, R Price, A Joy, J Hewlett, P Williams.

Neath: S Williams, D Tiueti, J Storey, T Davies, D Williams, P Horgan, A Booth, D Jones, M Davies, A Howell, S Martin, G Llewellyn (capt), R Phillips, R Francis, K Tuipulotu.
Replacements: M Davies, G John, S Jones, N Bonner Evans, A Jackson, P Jones, A Millward.

Referee: Hugh Watkins (WRU)