Dave Tiueti notched a hat-trick of tries as Neath put Bridgend to the sword in a Welsh-Scottish League match played in appalling conditions at The Gnoll.

Torrential rain and strong winds lashed the ground but Tiueti ensured Neath got home and dry with superb finishing.

The Tongan competed his treble when he accepted a short pass from Barry Williams to power through the remaining cover.

Against a backdrop of thunder and lightning, Neath also claimed a penalty try after referee Nigel Whitehouse adjudged Bridgend had deliberately stood up at a close-range scrum.

Bridgend responded with tries from Gareth Thomas and replacement Shawn van Rensburg but were never seriously in the hunt.

The win keeps Neath on course for a top-five finish and a place in next season's Heineken Cup.

The Gnoll side went in for the break 18-9 ahead after dominating the first period despite playing into a strong wind.

They opened their account on nine minutes when Tiueti did superbly to cross in the corner following a powerful charge from Williams.

Before Bridgend had begun to fashion a response, Tiueti notched his second touchdown, finishing out wide after Shane Williams had taken advantage of indecision in the Bridgend ranks.

Bridgend rallied with a quickfire hat-trick of penalties from Craig Warlow but their momentum was checked when they saw Keith Stewart and Jon Thiel yellow-carded.

As they tried to hold their lines, Alfie Mocelutu ploughed over from a close-range tap penalty. Lee Jarvis converted to pass 300 points for the season.

Teams:

Neath: Connor, K. James, Tiueti, Storey, S. Williams, Jarvis, Horgan, D. Jones, B. Williams, Millward, Martin, Llewellyn, Francis, Mocelutu, Sinkinson.

Not Used: Price, A. Moore, S. Jones, Pugh, R. Phillips, Slade, Howells.

Tries: Tiueti 3, Mocelutu, Penalty.

Cons: Jarvis 2.

Pens: Jarvis 2.

Bridgend: Durston, D. Jones, James, Funnell, G. Thomas, Warlow, Harries, Loader, G. Williams, Thiel, Stewart, D. Jones, Budgett, Bryan, Molitika.

Not Used: Griffiths, Ringer, Joy, Devereux, Havili, van Rensburg, Hewlett.

Tries: G. Thomas, van Rensburg.

Cons: Warlow.

Pens: Warlow 3.

Att: 3,000

Ref: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).

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