Shane Williams scored 11 valuable points with the boot

As early as the second minute wing Kevin James was worked over for a try and wing Shane Williams converted from the touchline.

Twelve minutes later a searing break from fly-half Tristan Davies split the Vale defence and centre James Storey was on hand to touchdown. Wing Williams added the extras.

The Gwent side's opening score in the 16th minute came via a Shaun Connor penalty and two minutes later centre Rhys Shorney just managed to hit the try line and record the 61st league try of his career.

Fly-half Connor converted and landed a penalty and right on half-time wing Stephen John capitalised on a poor Williams drop-out to touchdown wide out with Connor adding the extras.

Adrift 20-14 at half-time, the All Blacks hit back with a try from centre Dave Tiueti only for Vale to respond immediately through flanker Gareth Green.

Tries from replacement flanker Steve Tandy and wing James took Neath into a 33-27 lead on the hour, but two Connor penalties squared matters until Williams settled it late on.

Scorers - Neath (14) 36

Tries: K. James 2, Storey, Tiueti, Tandy. Cons: S. Williams 4. Pens: S. Williams.

Ebbw Vale (20) 33 Tries: John, Shorney, Green. Cons: Connor 3. Pens: Connor 4.

Att: 4,000

Teams

Neath: G Morris, K James, J Storey, D Tiueti, S Williams, T Davies, A Booth, P Jones, S Jones, A Millward, S Martin, G Llewellyn, N Bonner-Evans, R Phillips, R Francis.
Replacements: S Tandy, A Jackson, A Howell, D Jones, M Davies, D Pugh, John.

Ebbw Vale: Paul Matthews; Stephen John, Rhys Shorney, Jonathan Hawker, Andrew Wagstaff; Shaun Connor, Richard Smith; Iestyn Thomas, Leyton Phillips, Damien Penisini, Chay Billen, Neil Edwards, Alastair Rogers, Gareth Green, Mark Jones (capt).
Replacements: Alun Phillips, Andrew Peacock, Stean Williams, Gareth Betts, Chris Landry, Jonathan Williams, G Llewellyn.

Referee: H F Lewis (Pontypridd).