CROSS Keys kept alive their Principality Premiership play-off hopes with a tense bonus-point victory over Neath at the Gnoll.

It was the visitors who opened proceedings when Neath found themselves struggling in the backline in the backline, and Keys wing Mathew Powell touching down, with fly-half Ethan Davies converting.

The Welsh All Blacks clawed their way back into the game shortly afterwards though, when highly-rated scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams found Aaron Grabham out wide, and the winger dived over for the try. However, fly-half Luke Price failed to add the two points from the tee.

The hosts went in front when Grabham found space out wide and finished well in the corner for his second try of the day, although Price failed to add the extras again.

Keys regained the lead after 38 minutes, when centre Nathan Williams wriggled through some very weak tackles from the home team. This time, though, Davies struck the conversion wide to send the visitors in at the interval with a 14-12 lead.

As soon as the second-half started, Keys’ Davies performed a sublime dummy to fool the entire Neath defence and then the fly-half dabbed down under the posts, and landed thev conversion..

A bonus point is what Keys needed to maintain their play-off hopes , and that’s exactly what they got when No.8 Adam Powell powered after 50 minutes.

Neath continued to battle for only their second win of the season, and soon after it paid dividends. With 66 minutes on the clock hooker Sion Crocker provided the Premiership strugglers with a lifeline, touching down following a strong maul. Price added the extras.

The home side were then firmly back in the game when lock Alex Humfrey finished off a fine attacking move, and Price converted to narrow Keys’ lead to just two points going into the last seven minutes.

With pressure being forced on Keys in the dying moments of the game, Davies earned himself a yellow card, meaning the away side had to protect the lead with only 14 men. They did manage to protect the lead though, and Keys travelled back to Pandy Park with five crucial points.

Keys will now hope that Ebbw Vale slip up against Aberavon today (Sunday) and that would give them the chance to snatch a play-off spot by beating Bedwas in midweek.

Neath: Tries: A Grabham (2), Sion Crocker, Alex Humfrey. Con: Luke Price (2)

Cross Keys: Tries: M Powell, N Williams, E Davies, A Powell. Con: E Davies (3)

Neath E Howley, J Jones (A Jenkins 37), R Evans (A Bramwell 16), I Evans, A Grabham, L Price, R Morgan-Williams. N Downs (captain) (A Coundley 50), S Crocker (K Mattocks 66), G James; R Jones (J Barley 59), A Humfrey; J Collier, L Ward, C Price.

Cross Keys: L Andrews (c), M Powell . N Williams (B Nightingale 69) . P Williams (S Williams 62) . L Lewis . E Davies . J Leadbeater (O Leonard 65) L Garrett (E Shipp 62) . D Hughes (G Carpenter 62) . L Brown (R Cornock 62) . D Hodge S Andrews . I Jones . J Skinner . A Powell

Referee :: Rob Price (W.R.U.)

Cross Keys star man: Ethan Davies