A series of presentations will take place on June 9th 2025 at The Towers Hotel & Spa for the much-anticipated Options Appraisal Report on the Neath and Tennant Canals Neath Port Talbot Council has secured £113,850 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Places initiative for the development phase of the Canal Connections/ Cysylltiadau Camlesi project This project aims to regenerate the canal system into an accessible community asset for active recreation and travel Another of the project’s goals is to establish the canal system as a must-visit heritage destination which connects local communities it is looking to foster the working partnerships needed to facilitate the regeneration of these key heritage and environmental assets for the benefit of our communities our wildlife ecosystems and the area’s economy Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature said: “The canals enable residents to reconnect with nature and the communities along its length “There is wide recognition of the importance of these spaces for people’s health and wellbeing as these waterways can be improved to provide clean green spaces for local leisure activity and to provide a place where rich biodiversity thrives.” Following a recent community consultation exercise civil engineering consultants AtkinsRéalis developed a comprehensive feasibility study examining future sustainable uses for the Neath and Tennant Canals recognising their significance and unique heritage and what they can offer to the people and communities lining their routes The study forms part of the Canal Connections/ Cysylltiadau Camlesi project Communities and residents can see at first hand the study’s options and recommendations – set out in the Options Appraisal Report - during one of two presentation sessions running at 2.00pm and 4.00pm at the Towers Hotel and Spa Everyone is welcome to attend and play their part in collectively taking forward a phased sustainable future for these cherished waterways Works to carry out essential carriageway reprofiling The works will commence on 24/03/2025 for 54 nights The work will be carried out over 54 nights between 20:00 – 06:00 The Eastbound carriageway will be closed nightly for the duration of the works between the A465 onslip at the Glynneath Interchange and Hirwaun Interchange.  A portion of the works will also require closure of lane 2 of the Westbound Carriageway This will take place between 25/04/2025 – 19/05/2025 Traffic heading Eastbound on the A465 from the Glynneath Interchange will be diverted via the A4109 B4242 and the Merthyr Road to Hirwaun Interchange For further information, please contact Traffic Wales on 0300 123 1213 or via Twitter @TrafficWalesS The urban areas are restricted to the valley floor and fringed by pockets of ancient semi-natural woodland The only SINC in the ward at the Lamb & Flag is a mixture of habitats on a former flood plain A small area of the Coedydd Nedd a Mellte SAC Parts of Dyffrynoedd Nedd a Mellte a Meol Penderyn woodland SSSI and Cwm Gwrelych and Nant Llyn Fach Streams geological SSSI are in the ward The river Neath and its tributaries are important for Otter Native woodland is home to Pied Flycatchers Species-rich grasslands contain plants such as Eyebright It was the first explosives factory in Wales and well placed to become a major player in the lucrative blasting powder market for mines and quarries the factory buildings are crumbling and the leats and tramways have all but vanished The stories of the men and women that spent their working day here the friendships forged and families sustained will soon will be lost from living memory As part of our ‘Explosive Times Project’ funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund the most significant structures will be conserved native woodland plants will be given a helping hand and stories of one of the most extraordinary workplaces told During this conservation work the tramway may be closed for short periods of time We look forward to welcoming you back in Spring 2020 to see the conserved buildings and new interpretation Harnessing the fast flowing power of the river Mellte the former Gunpowder works made and supplied Gunpowder to the quarries and mines of South Wales   Transforming the lives and fortunes of those that lived and worked there it’s a story of innovation Today the site is a tranquil wooded valley rich in lush ferns and mosses and home to an amazing variety of bat species A pleasant stroll along the former tramroad reveals the curious ruins of buildings These are all that remain after the purposeful destruction of the site when the works closed in 1931 the intriguing ‘anti-explosion’ health and safety measures and the contribution the industry made to the industrialisation of South Wales The Gunpowder Trail is one of 11 walks in the Waterfall Country Walks Pack that can be purchased from our on line shop. The village of Pontneddfechan has several pubs and cafes A free car park at Craig y Ddinas / Dinas Rock is owned and managed by Natural Resources Wales Public toilets are located at the centre of Pontneddfechan village This audio trail, produced by Natural Resources Wales, reveals what life was like working at the Gunpowder Works . Click here to download it as an mp3 file The run up to the festive season has… Christmas Tasting Day at Black Mountains Smokery… For those looking to add a touch of… guides and books to help plan your visit to our National Park This gentle route follows the contours of an 18th-century canal towpath that transported coal and timber in its hey-day parts of the canal are presently being restored to their former glory and waterway enthusiasts with colourful barges can often be seen making leisurely trips up stream The canal is home to wide species of fish and pond life including Bream Kingfishers and Water Vole have also been spotted In the forest glades not far from the start of the route can be found the magnificent 86 foot high Melincourt Falls once painted in all its glory by landscape artist Turner The area is a fertile breeding ground for ferns and a wide variety can be spotted in the area Also evident in this valley is the revival of coal mining witnessed by the re-opening of collieries including Aberpergwm Pentreclwydau - found at the end of the route - is a gateway to the waterways and falls dotted around the valley Also found near Resolven is 120 acre Rheola Estate a picnicker's paradise complete with a lake that local historians say was a hunting ground for one of Wales' finest ever fly fishers and dressers Twm Twm who was said to fish for Trout in the pond using flies dressed from his own clothes or bird's feathers The grade 11 listed Rheola Brook Aqueduct can also be seen against a backdrop of magnificently wooded hillsides Pentreclwydau- found at the end of the route - is a gateway to the waterways and falls dotted around the valley It's also possible to ride/walk in the opposite direction from Resolven again picking up the canal towpath towards Neath Would you like more route inspiration? Sign up to our enewsletter. We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes Walking and cycling routes change over time Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability experience and confidence levels of those in your group To make sure everyone gets the most out of their time by the water, please ensure you follow the Towpath Code Resolven to Glyn-Neath is part of the National Cycle Network Your donation today will help keep the Network safe and open for everyone to enjoy Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise. Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square, Bristol, BS1 5DD. Former Neath and Wales prop Glyn Shaw has passed away after a long illness aged 71. Glyn was without doubt one of the mightiest forwards ever to play for Neath RFC – which is quite a testimony given that there have been so many in the Club’s 150-year history. After being capped at Youth level as a second row from Seven Sisters, Glyn Shaw joined Neath in 1970 and soon made his mark, making a try-scoring debut in a 26-3 win over the West Wales R.U. He rapidly established himself in the exceptionally powerful Neath pack of the time usually alongside Norman Rees and Walter Williams in the front row. He was capped by Wales ‘B’ in 1971 and he was in the Neath team which capped the Club’s centenary year by beating Llanelli 15-9 at Cardiff to win the inaugural WRU Cup fifty years ago. He represented the Public School Wanderers in the Neath RFC Centenary Sevens (won by the home club) and his inclusion caused some merriment among Neath supporters at the time as he had been schooled in the Dulais Valley ! He earned his first Wales cap in 1972 alongside team-mate Dave Morris against New Zealand when Wales lost 16-19 after J.P.R. Williams had a try controversially disallowed and he went on to win 12 caps, displacing the revered Charlie Faulkner to break up the Pontypool front row. Blessed with remarkable strength, energy and speed, Glyn Shaw was a prop ahead of his time with his exceptional mobility. Regrettably, few Neath supporters were present at Pontypool when he caught a kick off and ran through the entire bemused home pack and raced to score at the posts. “Props aren’t meant to do that !” shouted one flabbergasted Pontypool supporter – quite ! He was elected captain of Neath RFC in 1977/78 but succumbed to the charms of rugby league in November of that season and joined Widnes RL and he made a successful transition up north where he became a double international, representing both Wales and Great Britain. His business interests kept him in the north but he regularly returned for Former Players re-unions and was honoured to be accepted into the distinguished ranks of the Neath Rugby Supporters’ Club “Hall of Fame”. Neath RFC’s thoughts and sympathy are with his family and friends at this sad time.  MP Sean Gale in action for Llanelli against New Zealand in 1997 It will be a toss-up between who is the more nervous in the Gale family at Principality Stadium when Llanelli Wanderers face Glynneath in the Division 1 Cup final. Dad Sean may have been to the home of Welsh rugby before as both player and coach with Llanelli down the years, but son Nick will be making his first appearance at a venue that once graced his grandfather’s boots as a Wales captain. Norman Gale won 25 caps as a tough as teak hooker for both Swansea and Llanelli. Now it is down to Nick to follow in illustrious family footsteps on the hallowed turf. Both Sean and Nick became synonymous with Narberth rugby before teaming up as a coaching duo at the Wanderers, with Nick also turning out as a player. He will be in the centre for the final, with his dad hoping he has got his kicking boots on. Since teaming up at the Wanderers last summer, they have helped to steer them to the upper echelons of Division 1 West. Gorseinon are the only team to have beaten them in the league this season and took full advantage of their rivals’ cup commitments to leapfrog them at the top. Even so, Wanderers are only a point behind and have two games in hand as the title race heats up. A league and cup double is still very much on the cards. “This is the greatest achievement the club has ever achieved reaching the Principality Stadium. We’ve been in a couple of local finals before, but nothing like this,” said club secretary Richard Keenan. “We’ve made the most of it with a pre-cup final reception booked for the Friday night prior to the big game. We invited former captains, coaches and chairmen to join us, and we are taking at least eight busloads of fans with us to Cardiff. “All our mini and junior players are coming along to support the club and we’ve kitted them out with flags. The interest in the club, and the impact of reaching the final, has been amazing. “We’ve been through some hard times in the last 10-15 years, and it has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point. It was only COVID that saved us from relegation.” Derek O’Donnell and Alun Davies have been through the thick and thin at the club over their 50 years of involvement each and Keenan is hoping their half-centuries of service are marked in the finest of style on cup final day. There are also a number of stalwart players in the matchday squad. Centre Rhydian Morgan has more than 300 games in his credit, while replacement prop Ben Harris is 260 and counting. Elgan Morgan is the elder statesman on the bench at 36, while flanker Lloyd Pike has played for Llandovery, Llanelli and Cardiff. Most of the squad have come through the mini and junior section. Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS © 2025 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union, Statistical Data © Opta CloseMax Boyce says he was filled a "mixture of humility and pride" as a lifelike bronze statue of him was unveiled in his home town in the week of his 80th birthday to recognise his work and contribution to Welsh culture "I've done big concerts for 50 years this feels very different," he said as people lined the streets for a first glimpse of the statue "I'm a mixture of humility and pride and can't believe they think I'm worthy of such a thing," he added Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreWelsh singer Max Boyce's home town statue unveiled 00:00:36Welsh singer Max Boyce's home town statue unveiled 0:36Up Next Max Boyce: Welsh rugby singing legend turns 80 00:01:21Max Boyce: Welsh rugby singing legend turns 80 1:21Bonnie Tyler: Singing star joins us on the sofa for a Q&A 00:01:34Bonnie Tyler: Singing star joins us on the sofa for a Q&A 1:34Singer Katherine Jenkins' surprise for dying man 00:00:29Singer Katherine Jenkins' surprise for dying man 0:29Max Boyce on Llanelli's All Blacks win in 1972 00:04:17Max Boyce on Llanelli's All Blacks win in 1972 4:17Editor's recommendationsWatch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released Credit: Ruth Knoyle/Media WalesPeople living in a south Wales town have said "stained" water has been flowing from their taps for "several weeks" prompting them to used bottled water instead Ruth Knoyle was filling up her garden swimming pool in Glynneath for her two children but returned to find the water was running "brown" Ms Knoyle said she was advised by Welsh Water that the discoloured water was still safe to drink but she has decided to purchase only bottled water until the issue is resolved said: "I filled the swimming pool up and went to pick up my two kids from playing sports there is no chance of you going in the pool now I spoke to Welsh Water and they told me it was still safe to drink but it could cause damage to white clothes when in the wash Other Glynneath residents have also posted about the issue on social media Welsh Water confirmed that discoloured water has been affecting the Neath Port Talbot and Maesteg areas and that investigations are ongoing but said it was suspected to be the result of "unprecedented demand of water" A notice on the Welsh Water website said: "We believe this is the result of unprecedented demand of water investigations will continue whilst we respond to calls and continue to flush the network We are really sorry for the inconvenience this is causing please be assured that we are working hard to resolve the issues and hope this will improve over the next few days."It added: "We have teams in the area flushing the network to help clear this." They also advised customers: "Run your cold kitchen tap It usually clears fairly quickly after a few minutes of flushing your taps through but it may take around 45 minutes of running the tap before it clears Avoid washing clothes until the water is clear." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. The course opens with a gently-undulating par 4 The elevated eighth tee raises hopes of a big drive and Looking back from the exciting par-3 ninth which crosses a deep ravine A long drive is needed to get a proper view of the green at the dogleg eleventh The fourteenth green with the rolling hills beyond A reachable par-5 raises hopes of a birdie to finish The parkland course at Glynneath Golf Club in South Wales scores very highly for views There are two loops from the clubhouse at Glynneath This means that there are effectively two starting points The opening hole is a strong par 4 over the gentlest of rollercoaster fairways which also slopes down a little to the right The lovely view from the green sets the scene very well A medium-length par 3 leads you to the 3rd a tough three-shotter over the ravine and then right to left up the hill You now reach the hardest hole on the course with a marker pole for the drive and another left-hand turn to the highest point on the course A very good par 4 and a slightly gruelling par 5 take you down a little and then back up again and the 7th is a blind but driveable par 4 back down the slope There is a very appealing drive at the 8th but beware going right as it is easy to get blocked out The green is particularly narrow and so calls for a pinpoint approach Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts This is a fine par 3 to a 2-tier green where it is certainly better to be long than short There is another driveable par 4 at the tenth and the next is a dogleg to the left where you need a really solid drive to set up your approach round the corner and down the hill It is very easy to leave yourself blocked out The 12th is a severely uphill short hole to a small green where you usually need to add on a couple of clubs to the yardage The drive on the fourteenth presents a real conundrum There is the tiniest fairway adjacent to the trees on the left but you need to be at least 230 yards to see round the corner to the green I am still not entirely sure what you are supposed to do the view puts a different complexion on things The next is a cracking par 3 and it’s worth spending a little while on the tee to drink in the view The green is over a marshy area and close to water This does mean that at times the ground nearby can be somewhat pluggy The course finishes with two par 4s and then a par 5 where the tree line turns it almost into a double dogleg He specialises in course reviews and travel and has played over 1,250 courses in almost 50 countries he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 Courses of the UK&I as well as the Next 100 where he is missing two in Scotland and two in Ireland He has been a member of Tandridge for over 30 years where his handicap hovers around 15 You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com Llanelli Wanderers claimed the Division 1 Cup final against Glynneath at Principality Stadium on the Road to Principality © 2025 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union A wonderful piece of street art depicting Welsh folk hero Max Boyce has appeared in his home town of Glynneath created by one of Wales’ leading street artists Steve ‘Jenks’ Jenkins has appeared on the side of the Dinas Rock pub who donated the space on their wall for the artwork In a post on Facebook the artist wrote: ‘My way of wishing Max Boyce a happy 80th birthday poems and songs since I was a youngster and my Dad used to play your records while I was going off to sleep ‘Thank you to the Dinas Rock Pub for donating the wall for my project ‘Also huge thanks to Richard Bradbeer for the use of his design for the fantastic rugby dragon!!!’ The artwork is situated opposite the recently unveiled statue of the singer who received the Freedom of the Borough of Neath Port Talbot in honour of his charity work and lifelong commitment to his community in 2014 has sold more than two million albums in a career going back to the 1970s Max celebrated his 80th birthday just a few days before the unveiling which was performed by Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan created by renowned local artist Rubin Eynon facse Abernant Park – the home of Max Boyce’s beloved Glynneath RFC Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. has been in operation in some form since the 1800s and the new plans would see conditions lifted from the licence for an area covering 1,131 hectares to allow for further mining The site in Glynneath, which is owned by company Energy Build, was granted a new license in July last year, having been in operation in some form since the 1800s The new plans would see further mining take place at the site Coal Action Network has said it will look "carefully" at appealing the decision adding that "it is unconscionable to permit the Aberpergwm coal mine to operate for the next 16 years pumping out over 100 million tonnes of CO2 and over a million tonnes of methane" Last summer the environmental campaign group, Extinction Rebellion, broke into the mine climbed on buildings within the site and some members chained themselves to a gate from Coal Action Network said: "The ability for Wales to decide its own future is exactly what the Wales Act 2017 was brought in to do and we want to see it used to create a more sustainable Wales that supports future generations the company has labelled the mine as the "only source of high-grade anthracite in Western Europe" and said the coal will not be burned but used for water filtration and electric batteries instead Mr Therkelsen added: "The Welsh Government has strong policies against coal but it repeatedly fails to put them into action – whether that’s at Aberpergwm or allowing the ongoing illegal coal mining at Ffos-y-fran but the finding that the Coal Authority cannot consider climate change impacts when it licences new coal mining should bolster support for the House of Lords’ Energy Bill amendment to block new coal licences The Welsh Government has said it "welcomes the clarity provided by the court" and it will "consider the court’s ruling in detail to better understand what practical implications it may have for the Aberpergwm colliery and the licensing role of the Welsh Ministers and the Coal Authority more broadly.” Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "This is extremely disappointing news and a blow for the fight against climate change She added: "We cannot afford to extract 40 million more tonnes of coal." Jack O'Reilly is hoping to steer Glynneath back to the Plate final at Principality Stadium Grant Bignell is hoping he can go one better as a coach than he did as a player by winning the WRU National Plate Glynneath’s head coach was in the side that reached the 2011 final at Principality Stadium before going down to a 35-13 defeat to Ammanford He helped to plan a revenge victory over Ammanford in the last 16 of this season’s tournament and now has two time former champions Penallta in his sights in this weekend’s quarter-finals Former hooker Bignell is not the only link back to the Glynneath side that reached the final eight years ago.Craig Tennant is still there as is tight head prop Gareth Hall outside half Jack O’Reilly and try-scoring centre Greg Roberts Felinfoel and Ammanford to earn a home draw in the quarter-finals against a team that knows exactly what it takes to reach the final and take home the silverware were beaten in the 2016 final and then won again in 2017 albeit on a superior try count after their game against Ystalyfera finished 16-16 One of four teams from Division 1 East who have reached the last eight who are the holders and are still in the hunt to retain their title The Mawr head to Treorchy still licking their wounds after a 34-19 reverse at table-topping Brecon That came on top of a 14-10 defeat at Penallta in January leaving them trailing the top two by eight and 13 points respectively in the chase for the league title they won so impressively last season “There are a couple of teams we probably wanted to avoid and Penallta would certainly have been one of them But it’s a home draw so it could have been worse,” said Bignell We had a week off a few weeks ago and some of our supporters went to have a look at them and said they played very similarly to us try and play rugby and don’t just rely on the set piece who were relegated from the National Championship last season are still in the hunt for the Division 1 West Central title They also booked their ticket into the West Wales Cup final with a 22-14 win over Felifoel last week to set up a final showdown with holders Ystalyfera “We’ve had a bit of a sticky patch where we lost a couple of league games but won with a bonus point against Maesteg Celtic a week last Saturday and then produced a great performance midweek against Felinfoel in the cup,” added Bignell “We’ve put real focus on our defensive work and that kind of won us the game against Felinfoel It’s been a few years since we’ve had runs in the cup because the cup was a bit of a write off for us – and you couldn’t enter the West Wales Cup “We’ve always been a pretty good cup team and do seem to pull it out the bag when it comes to these knockout games.” Another side from the west hoping to end the eastern dominance of the Plate – Brynmawr won last year Ystrad Rhondda in 2015 and Merthyr in 2014 – will be Bonymaen Their run to the quarter-finals is the club’s best-ever in the competition They saw off Aberystwyth and Cilfynydd in rounds two and four respectively following a first round walkover against Porthcawl and then a bye through the third round reached the last eight in dramatic fashion after going through at Ynysddu on the away team rule after the match finished a 9-9 try-less draw Cambrian reached the final of the WRU National Bowl as a then Division 3 club losing 17-12 to Ystradgynlais on that occasion The boys have had a bit of a week off to enjoy the weekend and the Six Nations but they are now fully focused on the cup,” said Bonymaen team manager “We’re hoping for a big crowd and that we can get the community and everyone to come up and rally around the team “We had a big crowd at the game against Ystalyfera the weekend before last The boys came off the pitch and said they’d never played in front of a crowd like that and it did help them get through at the end “Cambrian are no mugs and have been to the stadium before the carrot is there and things are really building up nicely.” coached by former Wales and British & Irish Lions back row star Andy Powell who have successfully reached the last four of the WRU National Youth Cup The senior side are unbeaten this season in the league and cup although they were downed by Ystrad Rhondda in the Mid District Cup in December Their last league defeat was at Nelson on 14 April last year they have already completed the double over the Unicorns Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email the Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed calls for more support for workers at risk of losing… NEATH PORT TALBOT Council’s growing fleet of electric and low-emission vehicles now numbers 50 as it continues its drive towards… By Lewis Smith PROPOSALS for a ‘nationally significant’ solar farm with the potential to power more than 7,000 homes are… [email protected]SPREAD THE NEWS + 2 (View All) The Hywel Griffiths Plant Hire Balcony Suite match sponsors The Glen man of the match was winger Liam Hutchings Here seen in the middle with Tom and Helen Slater welcomed Max Boyce’s Glynneath to the Lewis Lloyd ground With Narberth Youth playing Whitland Youth on the adjoining pitch there was an excellent crowd in attendance to watch the two games Due to injuries to seven of the back’s squad and a couple of tactical changes to the forwards Narberth was once again fielding a much-changed team to the one which had beaten Skewen in an excellent match the previous week Narberth began to get the upper hand and spent much of the first quarter in the Glynneath half but were unable to penetrate a strong and solid defensive unit the deadlock was broken when after a series of forward drives Glynneath were penalised at the breakdown and Narberth full back kicked an easy penalty from near the posts (3-0) Narberth soon began to dominate possession but despite continuously recycling the ball and spreading it wide the ball was turned over by Narberth hooker Rhodri Owens and second row He then slipped the ball to Liam Hutchins who’d come sprinting through off his wing and when tackled he off-loaded to No.8 Richie Rees who raced for a full 30 metres to the Glynneath try line Ianto Griffiths kicked the conversion to make the score 10-0 to Narberth Glynneath then upped their game and continued with a series of attacks around the Narberth 22 metre line The Narberth defence held firm and just when it looked like Glynneath would get nothing for their efforts a Narberth boot kicking the ball out of a ruck resulted in a penalty being awarded which was kicked by Glynneath centre Pat Murphy to make the score 10-3 Narberth once again went on the attack and spent several minutes close to the Glynneath try line Eventually after a five metre scrum Narberth changed tactics and with a perfectly weighted kick from fly half Jonathan Rodgers winger Liam Hutchins caught the high ball right out on the touchline and crashed over the try line in the top corner of the pitch The conversion was unsuccessful and Narberth left the field at half-time with a comfortable lead of 15-3 The second half followed a similar pattern to the first half with Narberth having by far the greater share of possession and spending most of the time camped in or around the Glynneath 22 metre line without being able to add to their score The Narberth forwards were once again dominant with several typical charges from prop Bradley Davies and skipper Alex Jenkins Glynneath made sporadic attacks into the Narberth half but on attempting to get the ball out wide the ball was intercepted by flanker Pat Roberts who sped up the touchline and then gave a perfectly timed pass to winger Ryan Davies (who had replaced Yannick Parker in his first match for Narberth) to score in the corner The difficult conversion was unsuccessful (20-3) Narberth made various substitutions with Lewys Gibby replacing Rhys Lane Dewi Williams replacing Richie Rees and Ryan Rees replacing Tom Slater Glynneath eventually managed to work their way into the game and with improved possession they created several attacks in the Narberth 22 but excellent defence by the entire Narberth team kept them out and they were unable to increase their score Dan Smith then replaced Rhodri Owens at hooker in the final substitution and with there looking to be no further score with the last play of the game and with Glynneath again desperately throwing the ball around in an effort to make ground the ball was again intercepted by the alert Pat Roberts who scored under the posts Ianto Griffiths kicked the conversion to leave the final score 27-3 to Narberth The club would like to thank the two room match sponsors for the day who were in the recently refurbished Folly Farm Otters Holt and the Hywel Griffiths Balcony Suite match sponsors being the Glen Hotel who chose winger Liam Hutchins as man of the match Many thanks must also go to the Supporters Club who made a substantial financial contribution to the refurbishment works Tel: 01834 843262[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Glynneath have won the SWALEC Division 1 West trophy with a 41-12 win against Llangennech at the end of their 125th anniversary season Email: info@wru.wales Telephone: 02920 822 000 Glynneath captured the Silver Ball from last season’s winners Maesteg Quins with a splendid second-half comeback after being 10-0 down at the interval, to come away with a 13-10 victory. It was the first time in 49 years that Glynneath had won the coveted trophy, having won in 1961, 1962 and 1963. The Quins battled hard to hold on and after an even first 29 minutes, Quins captain and fly half Gareth Lewis laned a penalty and the the first try came seven minutes later. Glynneath full back David Evans was caught and Quins centre Ryan Lovett beat off defenders to score with Lewis converting. In the second half, Glynneath used the strong wind well, particularly through their young fly half Jack O’Reilly. It was O’Reilly’s clever coss-kick that sent wing Jonny Morgan over after 47 minutes and O’Reilly added the conversion. After 62 minutes, Glynneath were awarded a penalty but as referee Gwyn Morris played advantage, O’Reilly dropped a smart goal. Glynneath centre Kyle Roberts was unlucky to be red-carded for a second bookable offence, but 14-man Glynneath won it when O’Reilly placed a penalty with eight minutes remaining. The man of the match award was made by former international referee Cliver Norling who selected the young Glynneath lock Lloyd Bayliss. The Silver Ball was presented to Glynneath centre and captain Greg Roberts by Mr. Richard Davies, Accounts Manager of Molson Coors. The 73-year-old's body was found on the afternoon of January 27, near the Pontwalby Viaduct. A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being questioned by officers. South Wales Police is appealing for anyone who may have seen anything or anyone acting suspiciously in the area between 3.30pm and 7.50pm. South Wales Police is investigating the death of a 73-year-old man whose body was discovered outside a property near the Pontwalby Viaduct in Glynneath yesterday afternoon. Glynneath have won the SWALEC Division 1 West trophy with a 41-12 win against Llangennech at the end of their 125th anniversary season. His body was found outside a property in Danygraig Lane South Wales Police said in a statement 28-year-old Kyle Bowen has been charged with Mr Williams' murder and will appear before Swansea Magistrates Court on Friday morning said: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Williams' family at this difficult time." was well known in the dog-showing community Despite the fact a person has been charged with the murder of Mr Williams Mr William's family described him as a ''loving and generous person who would go out of his way to help anyone he could.'' Glynneath captured the Silver Ball from last season's winners Maesteg Quins with a splendid second-half comeback after being 10-0 down at the interval Glynneath captured the Silver Ball from last season’s winners Maesteg Quins with a splendid second-half comeback after being 10-0 down at the interval It was the first time in 49 years that Glynneath had won the coveted trophy The Quins battled hard to hold on and after an even first 29 minutes Quins captain and fly half Gareth Lewis laned a penalty and the the first try came seven minutes later Glynneath full back David Evans was caught and Quins centre Ryan Lovett beat off defenders to score with Lewis converting particularly through their young fly half Jack O’Reilly It was O’Reilly’s clever coss-kick that sent wing Jonny Morgan over after 47 minutes and O’Reilly added the conversion Glynneath were awarded a penalty but as referee Gwyn Morris played advantage Glynneath centre Kyle Roberts was unlucky to be red-carded for a second bookable offence but 14-man Glynneath won it when O’Reilly placed a penalty with eight minutes remaining The man of the match award was made by former international referee Cliver Norling who selected the young Glynneath lock Lloyd Bayliss The Silver Ball was presented to Glynneath centre and captain Greg Roberts by Mr Glynneath 2nds defeated last season's winners Briton Ferry Quins 24-13 to capture the Worthington Neath and District (H G Lewis) Cup in a splendid final played at Seven Sisters Glynneath 2nds defeated last season’s winners Briton Ferry Quins 24-13 to capture the Worthington Neath and District (H G Lewis) Cup in a splendid final played at Seven Sisters it seemed that the Glynneath’s backs were likely to run riot early on but Briton Ferry dug in and with great spirit leveled the try-count at 2-2 by the finish The difference was the boot of Glynneath centre Shaun Tennant who opened the match with a penalty hat-trick and then converted a god try by left wing Matthew Davies after a clever break by fly half Darren Davies It had been Briton Ferry who led with a penalty by fly half Michael Arnold but Glynneath were clear at 19-3 by half-time and soon afterwards added a good team try touched down by prop Clive Bowen Andrew Chappell came on to rouse the Briton Ferry pack and No 8 Julian Knight crossed the Glynneath line three times that was watched by Glynneath president Max Boyce and former international referee Clive Norling presenting the cup to Glynneath’s wing and captain Dan Challenger spirited game with Glynneath deserving the win