CROSS Keys go into December as Principality Premiership leaders after a convincing but hard-fought victory over Neath in appalling conditions at Pandy Park.

Played for the most part in torrential rain that made handling a nightmare, the home side had too much in the locker for the hapless Welsh All Blacks who are rooted to the bottom of the league with 11 defeats from 11 games.

This victory will be all the more sweeter for Keys who go top by knocking their great rivals Newport off the summit, the Black and Ambers having led the table for two days after their victory in Llanelli on Thursday night.

Champions Pontypridd could have reclaimed first place but came unstruck 22-8 at Bedwas as their troubles continue.

Keys were always in command and took the lead in the tenth minute when outside half Geraint Rhys Jones slotted over a penalty in the Neath 22 after the visitors were punished at the breakdown.

The hosts continued to dominate the opening exchanges and were camped deep in the visiting half in the opening quarter.

But they were unable to build on their 2-0 lead because of a number of factors, including innumerable knock ons, penalties conceded and the gutsy defence of the men from the Gnoll.

Keys came close to scoring a try from a Jones cross kick, after centre Polu Uhi had ripped the ball from a maul, but wing Nathan Trowbridge couldn't hold on to it.

They did break the deadlock in the 32nd minute when their number eight Adam Powell scored from the back of a powerful scrum which made its way over the Neath try line. Jones was unable to convert.

Despite having almost all the possession and territory, the home side led just 8-0 at the interval.

But the pattern continued after the break and Keys nearly scored in the seventh minute of the second half when a clever kick down field by back row forward Ieuan Jones was hacked on by Trowbridge who just failed to touch it down in time before it rolled over the dead ball line.

A scrum penalty in the 50th minute gave Jones the chance to kick his side into a 10-0 lead.

Keys played the conditions far smarter and their pack was too strong for Neath, who again found themselves on the back foot and almost always in the wrong area of the field.

Openside flanker Scott Matthews came close to crossing a try after a powerful run.

The Gwent side made it safe in the 64th minute when they were awarded a penalty try after they had the visiting scrum in all sorts of problems just short of their line.

Neath were given hope when wing Ian Ellis crossed for an unconverted try with ten minutes left after a smart grubber by their No 10 Iwan Evans.

It was a big day for Keys stalwart, 34-year-old prop Anthony 'Vinny' Lott who came on as a replacement soon after to make his 100th appearance for the club.

And it was an afternoon to remember for both Owain Leonard and Lewys Montague who made their league debuts after coming on for scrum half James Leadbeater and centre Uhi respectively in the dying minutes.

Any lingering thought of an unlikely Neath comeback were washed away when Powell charged over for his second try, superbly converted by Jones.

Cross Keys: Owen Howe, Lloyd Lewis, Leon Andrews (capt), Polu Uhi (Lewys Montague 78), Nathan Trowbridge, Geraint Rhys Jones, James Leadbeater (Owain Leonard 74), Richard Cornock (Anthony Lott 70), Darren Hughes (Ellis Shipp 75) , Leon Brown (Gary Carpenter 78), Danny Hodge (Simon Williams 70), Scott Andrews (Tom Lampard 75), Ieuan Jones, Scott Matthews (Josh Skinner 70), Adam Powell.

Scorers: Tries: Adam Powell (2), Penalty try, Conversion: Geraint Rhys Jones , Penalties: Jones (2)

Neath: Aaron Bramwell; Ashley Evans, Cameron Morris, Dean Howell, Ian Ellis; Iwan Evans, Tom James (capt) (Callum Davies 66); Roy Jones (Ben Uphill 56), Ieuan Dobbs (Rhys Cleverly 66), Marc Jones; Rhys Jones (Alex Humfrey 41), Jonathan Griffiths; Leon Ward (Reuben Morgan-Williams 56), Craig Price. Steffan Jones.

Replacements: Keiron Williams, Josh Jones.

Scorer: Try: Ian Ellis.

Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU).

Argus star man: Adam Powell