The All Blacks of Neath ran in six tries to overwhelm their opponents Ebbw Vale 45-6 at Eugene Cross Park.

Within two minutes of the kick-off centre James Storey was sent to the sin-bin for a very early tackle on Matt James as he followed up a high kick ahead from Lee Jarvis.

Duncan Jones (Neath) and Ochert Booyse (Ebbw Vale) earned themselves a roasting from referee Nigel Owens after a bout of wrestling on the ground but from then on the game developed into a series of raids at both ends.

First try of the game came following a strong burst out of defence by Storey, freshly out of the sin-bin.

Vale were penalised and a quick chip ahead from Jarvis was picked up on the bounce by Wales international Allan Bateman, who sprinted over. Jarvis' conversion attempt came back off an upright.

Martin Jones ignored a two-man overlap and blew Vale's best chance of a score before the interval.

Neath's second try came within a minute of the restart. Slick passing put Gareth Morris in possession and the full-back sped over although Jarvis could not convert.

Minutes later Morris was over again following a touchline run and pass from Kevin James.

This time Jarvis made no mistake with the conversion and he celebrated immediately afterwards with a well struck dropped goal fully 40 metres out.

Barry Williams was next to score for the All Blacks, the hooker showing good pace to make the necessary 30 metres, which Jarvis again converted.

Sean Connell came on as replacement for Bateman and marked his arrival with a corner try that went unconverted.

There was time for one more try from James under the posts and Jarvis had no problem with a conversion.

It was a clear victory for Neath and reward for their direct methods.

Gavin Henson clocked up a century of points for the season as Swansea eventually broke Caerphilly's stubborn resistance to win 36-21 at St Helen's.

The bottom-of-the-table visitors were within five points of the All Whites with just five minutes to play after a battling effort that underlines the impact made by new coach Terry Holmes.

Wales fly-half Henson reached his ton with a 21-point haul made up of five penalties and three conversions.

Scott Gibbs, Steve Winn and Colin Charvis added twice for the reigning Welsh champions, with Charvis' 65-metre effort the pick of the bunch.

The scores were locked at 16-16 at the break after a first half that had seen Swansea struggle to make headway against a side who had not previously won in the league this season.

It was miserable stuff as the All Whites underachieved at every turn with poor decision-making and a lack of urgency at forward blighting their game.

Caerphilly claimed the first try with 12 minutes on the clock - and it was fitting it should stem from a Swansea mistake.

A loose pass from Gibbs was intercepted by Justin Thomas and the former Wales full-back swept over unopposed beneath the home posts.

Ahead 13-6, Caerphilly were playing above themselves, but their momentum was checked when skipper David Hawkins was sent to the sin-bin after a professional foul on the half-hour.

Swansea made their extra numbers count as Gibbs powered through some less than assured defending for his fifth try of the season.

With Henson and Luke Richards each contributing a penalty hat-trick, there was nothing between the sides going into half-time.

But as the second half wore on Swansea's greater fitness against their semi-professional opponents became decisive.