NEW head coach Morgan Stoddart has his first victory in the Principality Premiership after Cross Keys triumphed at the Gnoll, writes Carl Field.

Hooker Darren Hughes bagged a try in each half with Scott Evans, Leon Andrews, Phil Williams and skipper Scott Matthews also on the scoresheet in the bonus-point win.

It is a second win from two for Stoddart, having beaten Bedlinog in the WRU National Cup last weekend, while this victory for Keys also gets them up and running in the second phase of the Premiership.

Neath full-back Ed Howley missed the chance to put his side on the scoreboard from the tee after just 70 seconds, however they did open their account in the eighth minute after an excellent burst down the left from scrum-half Scott Gibson to score.

Howley, though, was wayward with the conversion attempt.

Keys hit back in the 14th minute with a try from tighthead prop Evans, converted by full-back Josh Prosser, and they cut through again three minutes later with outside centre Andrews dotting down.

Prosser’s conversion made it 14-5.

Wing Geraint Llewellyn scored a second try for Neath on 21 minutes, touching down in the left corner after a smart kick from skipper Gavin Evans, with Howley taking care of the extras.

Keys took a 19-12 lead into half time after grabbing their third try two minutes before the break when Hughes powered over after the ball had been spun from right to left across the 22.

Howley booted Neath back to within four points three minutes after the re-start before Keys, despite having Matthews sin-binned, were soon over for their fourth and bonus-point winning try, scored by inside centre Williams, with Prosser converting.

Prosser then booted a penalty on 67 minutes to extend Keys’ lead to 29-15 before Hughes and Matthews added late tries to round off a convincing win.

Neath – Tries: S Gibson, G Llewellyn; Con: E Howley; Pen: E Howley

Cross Keys – Tries: S Evans, L Andrews, D Hughes (2), P Williams, S Matthews; Cons: J Prosser (4); Pen: J Prosser