LEADERS Neath came late to earn a bonus-try victory at Cross Keys last night that was enough to keep them one point ahead of Swansea having played one game less.

Centre Gareth King touched down four minutes into time added on to reward a wholehearted display from flanker Gareth Gravell and his marauding pack.

A narrow-side thrust brought Neath the opening score, captain and flanker Gareth Gravell breaking to set up a 10th-minute try for King that fly-half Gareth McCarthy converted.

But Keys levelled in the 22nd minute with a cracking try from wing Marcus Johnstone after Neath surrendered line-out ball inside the home 22. Full-back Gareth David added the extras.

Three minutes later, a 35-metre penalty from McCarthy put the Blacks back in front, and they led 10-3 at the break.

Two minutes into the second half, Keys had captain and flanker Lloyd Burns binned, but an injury to Neath flanker Michael Collins then held up play.

However, the Blacks increased the lead in the 49th minute when wing Kevin James pouched a McCarthy cross-kick to claim an unconverted try at the flag.

Back came 14-man Keys, reducing arrears to 15-10 via a 53rd-minute penalty from full-back David.

In the 63rd minute, flanker Rhys Peebles became the second Keys man to be binned, but McCarthy missed the ensuing penalty.

Numbers were then evened up three minutes later when Neath replacement prop Nicky Downs was yellow-carded, and full-back David also fluffed the subsequent penalty.

Neath then gave themselves more breathing space in the 75th minute when replacement scrum-half Kevin Farrell utilised the blind side.

He created the space for wing James to power over for a second unconverted try.

And on similar lines to the win over Carmarthen Quins last Tuesday, the Blacks wrapped up an injury-time bonus time.

This time King used his strength to ride tackles and touch down at the posts, with McCarthy converting.