Joy on the road for Keys (From Free Press Series)

Joy on the road for Keys

10:02pm Friday 8th February 2013 in Sport

NEATH 7 CROSS KEYS 35

CROSS Keys completed a league-double over Neath to build confidence a week ahead of a return visit to The Gnoll in the Swalec Cup, writes Tony Poole.

It also represented just a third win for Keys at the ground in half a century – and only a second in the league.

The Pandy Park side, who have just one more home game this season against Carmarthen Quins on April 27, garnished victory with a bonus point.

The slicker visiting backs set up their opening score in the seventh minute when scrum-half Rhys Dyer broke on halfway.

Accurate passing resulted in space being created space for centre Luke Ford to glide over. Seven minutes later another followed when centre Leon Andrews released wing Kristian Baller.

Though the Blacks attempted to claw back the deficit, a wayward pass on the half-hour led to wing Baller claiming an interception try.

A third conversion from fly-half Jones sent Keys clear.

Keys banked the bonus point in the 56th minute when another stray pass paved the way for Baller to sprint 70 metres for his hat-trick try.

Fly-half Jones added the extras and with Keys lock Dan Hodge binned in the 68th minute, Neath collected a try via replacement prop Ceri Jones, goaled by Dai Langdon.

But the 14 men soon hit back with a try from Ryan James, converted by fellow replacement Dean Gunter.