CROSS Keys’ fine run of form continued with a convincing bonus point win to chalk up their fifth win on the bounce in all competitions.

With a tough away block of fixtures to come, Cardiff in the Principality Premiership on Friday night before trips to league holders Pontypridd and British and Irish Cup champions Leinster A, this fine victory was the ideal tonic.

Neath are struggling badly, still without a single success to toast this season after seven league defeats and a British and Irish Cup play-off loss to show for all their efforts.

To be fair to the Welsh All Blacks they battled valiantly at Pandy Park but were no match for the well-oiled Keys machine who won with ease.

Cross Keys dominated from the off and should have scored from a driving lineout, Neath number eight Steffan Jones yellow carded for infringing for pulling down the maul, Dorian Jones opening the scoring from the resulting penalty.

But it was the visitors who opened the try-scoring against the run of play, former Newbridge full-back Ceri Young crossing for a well-worked try, Wales international wing Dafydd Howells missing an easy conversion.

The hosts did make Neath pay for the sin binning just before Steffan Jones was due back on the field when lock Dan Hodge continued his remarkable strike rate by storming through for his seventh touchdown of the season.

Dorian Jones added the conversion to make it 10-5 after 23 minutes.

Neath continued to be dangerous and a fine probing run by Howells nearly tore open the home defence.

But it was Keys who should have scored after half an hour when a wonderful burst by number eight Adam Powell caused havoc for Neath, wing Kristian Baller nearly crossing for a try in the corner.

They kept hammering away and were rewarded when their fine blindside flanker Tom Lampard crashed over following a quick tap penalty five minutes before half-time. Dorian Jones immaculately converting from out wide.

The first 40 minutes ended with Keys well on top, 17-5 up.

But it was the Welsh All Blacks who struck first after the interval, outside-half Dai Langdon crossing for a try after Neath took one against the head at a Keys put in at the scrum, Howells missed the tricky touchline conversion.

Just before the try, the hosts’ hooker Darren Hughes was yellow carded for infringing but

Keys hit back immediately when Nathan Trowbridge scored a beautiful individual try although Neath’s tackling was shocking.

The bonus point came when replacement wing Elliot Jones crossed in the 69th minute after Keys secured vital turnover ball to put them 27-10 up.

Hodge yellow carded before the game was out, a customary occurrence, and there was no further scoring in an entertaining encounter and with Keys looking in good shape for their visit to Cardiff Arms Park in a few days.

Cross Keys: A Bramwell, K Baller (E Jones 60), L Andrews (capt), J Cordey-Redden, N Trowbridge, D Jones (Angus O’Brien 75), R Dyer (R James 75), R Cornock (C Gould 79), D Hughes (G Price 70), A Lott (N Buck 70), D Hodge, O Hodge (G Price 52-57), T Lampard, S Matthews (R Tucker 79), A Powell.

Replacement: R Peebles

Cross Keys scorers: Tries – Dan Hodge (23), Tom Lampard (35), Nathan Trowbridge (47), Elliot Jones (69), Conversions – Dorian Jones (23) (35), Penalties – D Jones (13)

Neath: C Young; B Davies, A Pinches, J Leyshon, D Howells; D Langdon, J Davies; N Downs (Roy Jones 62), I Dobbs, M Jones (J Reeves 62); G Evans (Rhys Jones 65), J Goode (capt); G Gravell, J Collier (G Daniel 67), S Jones ( L Ward 65).

Replacements: K Mattocks, S Clarke, J Thomas.

Neath scorers: Tries – Ceri Young (19), Dai Langdon (46),

Referee: Neil Perkins (Pontypridd)

Argus star man: Dan Hodge