EBBW Vale made it five wins from five in the Principality Premiership but had to produce a stunning second-half comeback against struggling Neath, writes Jay Bayford.

The Steelmen were 17-0 down at the break, just like they were against Aberavon a few weeks ago, but three second-half tries ensured their winning start continued.

Ebbw arrived at the Gnoll on the back of four consecutive victories but it was the hosts who started like they had the habit of winning.

It took just five minutes for Neath, still without a win this season, to open the scoring through winger Chris Morgans after a flowing passing move. Callum Hall, formerly of Ebbw Vale, added the extras.

The Welsh All Blacks continued to cut through the Ebbw backline with their quick passing and number eight Ieuan Jones soon added a second try.

Hall added the conversion before slotting over a penalty midway through the first half.

Ebbw barely touched the ball and would have been pleased not to fall further behind before the break.

Whatever Greg Woods said at half time seemed to do the trick as Ebbw Vale hauled themselves back into the game minutes after the restart.

Winger Paul King showed immense pace and power on the right flank to grab his first try of the season. Fly-half Rhys Jones was accurate with the conversion to get Ebbw up and running.

The revival continued with full-back Dan Haymond crashing over, after good work from centre Aaron Bramwell, just shy of the hour mark but Jones missed the resulting conversion.

The momentum was firmly with Ebbw and they edged themselves ahead for the first time with well-taken penalties from Carl Meyer and Jones.

Neath piled on the pressure in the final stages as their confident quick passing returned but Ebbw Vale put the result beyond doubt when winger Toby Fricker touched down in the dying minutes.

The win means Ebbw Vale are the only team left in the league with a 100 per cent winning record.

Neath: Tries: C Morgans, I Jones; Cons: C Hall (2); Pen: C Hall.
Ebbw Vale: Tries: P King, D Haymond, T Fricker; Cons: R Jones (2); Pens: C Meyer, D Haymond.
 
Neath: C Hall; C Morgans, A Bramwell, G Evans, I Ellis (L Ward 30-40); R King, S Gibson; B Uphill (L Garrett 59), D Hughes (S Crocker 59), L Tobias, R Bean, S Andrews (capt) (Rhys Jones 9-26), J Collier, L Evans, I Jones.
 
Ebbw Vale: D Haymond; P King, C Meyer, D Franchi, T Fricker; Rhys Jones, D Jones; Ross Jones, J Franchi (R Francis 52), R Sevenoaks, L Randall, A Sweet (K Parker 41), R Clarke, R Kynes (capt), C Regan.
 
Star man: Dan Haymond (Ebbw Vale).