Steve Tandy heads for the line for Neath

Fifteen points from fly-half Shaun Connor helped Neath to the top of the Welsh Premiership in a comfortable win over under-strength Llanelli at the Gnoll.

The Scarlets, missing 18 players to injury or international calls, always looked second best, but a scrappy, error-strewn game was dominated by the whistle of referee Gareth Simmons.

The All Blacks, themselves without the likes of Gareth Llewellyn, Barry Williams and Brett Sinkinson, were boosted by a stirring, man-of-the-match performance from openside Steve Tandy.

They move above Bridgend on try count, but the Ravens have two games in hand.

Match details:

Neath Tries: S Tandy, S Connor, S Williams Cons: Connor (2) Pens: Connor (2) Llanelli Try: R Walters Con: B Davies

Neath, with Duncan Jones again starting at hooker, bossed the early exchanges and went ahead through a penalty by Connor on six minutes.

They had to wait until 20 minutes to register the game's opening try, however, with Tandy bursting through for a fine individual score.

Llanelli responded with some dangerous running from centre Tal Selley and makeshift fly-half Neil Boobyer, but their finishing let down at key moments.

The visitors problems increased when their number eight Dave Hodges was sin-binned on the stroke of half-time.

Ten minutes after the break Connor scampered over for a second Neath try, adding a conversion and a penalty moments later.

Llanelli hit back with a try from scrum-half Rob Walters, but Neath had the final word when wing Shane Williams claimed an injury-time score following a touchline dart.

Neath: A Durston; G Morris, J Storey, D Tiueti, S Williams; S Connor, A Moore; A Howells, D Jones, A Jones, A Newman, L Bateman, J Ringer, S Tandy, R Phillips.
Reps: P Horgan, L Jarvis, A Bateman, A Matthews, Davies, A Mocelutu, P Jones.

Llanelli: Barry Davies; Wayne Proctor, Matt Cardey, Tal Selley, Garan Evans; Neil Boobyer, Rob Walters; Phil John, Aled Gravell, John Davies, Paul Clapham, Vernon Cooper (capt), Chris Wyatt, Ian Boobyer, David Hodges.
Reps: David Maddocks, A Jones, Gavin Quinnell, Gareth Williams, Jamie Roberts, Jonny Lewis, C Thomas.

Ref: Gareth Simmons (WRU)

Att: 3,000