EBBW Vale are still searching for a first Welsh Premiership victory of the season after giving second best against Neath at The Gnoll.

The Steelmen were their own worst enemies during the first half, and a 22-0 scoreline was a fair reflection.

Vale simply weren’t at the races, but strong words allied to four half-time changes in personnel led to cracks being papered over.

They got the better of the argument during the third quarter, and a 37th Welsh Premiership try from wing Andrew Bevan led to them nibbling away at the Neath lead.

But a chance of making further inroads, via a reasonable 50th-minute penalty chance, led to head coach Matthew McCarthy bemoaning decision-making.

“Basically, the better side won, end of story, and we need to take a look at ourselves,” he said.

“We had opportunities to get back into the game, but our decision- making at times was poor.

“We simply aren’t clinical enough.

“But as Ebbw Vale are not big spenders in this league we will have to work with players in order to bring about an improvement.’’ However, McCarthy went on to sing the praises of last season’s Wales Under-20 internationals James Thomas and Rhys Jenkins.

He continued: “James Thomas and Rhys Jenkins were both outstanding, and I was also taken by the performance of Nathan Jones.

“After full-back Oliver Halford retired at half-time with a facial injury, Nathan Jones made a successful switch from scrum-half to full-back.’’ Watching Wales Under-20 coach Phil Davies will surely have taken on board all-action performances from the talented back-row duo.

Vale, who gained a surprise league double over the Blacks last term, chased shadows for much of the first half.

Tries at regular intervals from flanker Craig Price, centre Gareth King and hooker Andrew Littlehales took Neath clear.

The lone Vale response came in the 42nd minute when wing Bevan went on a tap-and-go, and twisted over the try-line.

Fly-half Gareth Bowen added the extras, making it 22-7, and during the third quarter the Steelmen looked more likely to score.

But Ospreys and Wales Under-20 wing Kristian Phillips then got Neath’s bonus-point try on the hour.

The sin-binning in the 70th minute of industrious Vale hooker Mathew Williams added to their problems – and it formed the perfect platform for some late magic from the Blacks. Replacement scrum-half Tom James engineered a 78th-minute try for powerful Kevin James, while during the final move fellow wing Phillips got his side’s sixth try.

Neath: K Morgan; K James, G King, L Ford (A Thomas 56 mins), K Phillips; G McCarthy, K Farrell (capt – T James 77), V Lott, A Littlehales (E Shervington 62), M Jones (J Reeves 77), N Edwards (P Sidoli 77), E Evans, J Bowd (L Evans 67), N Thomas, C Price (G Gravell 56).

Scorers: Tries – K Phillips (2), C Price, G King, A Littlehales, K James; cons: G McCarthy (4), Pen: G McCarthy.

Ebbw Vale: O Halford (A Jenkins h/t); L Johnson (M Lewis 63), S Powell, N Wilcox, A Bevan; G Bowen (capt), N Jones; A Howell (A Jeffries 75), M Williams, M Jones (C Ackland h/t), J Griffiths (M Amos h/t), N Eaves, J Thomas, R Williams (S Pengelly h/t), R Jenkins (D Powell 70-80).

Scorers: Try – A Bevan; con: G Bowen.

Yellow card: Mathew Williams.

Referee: Phil Fear (Fleur-de-Lys).

Ebbw Vale star choice: James Thomas