That earned him a place at the annual World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) Invitational in Queenstown in September against dodgeball heavyweights from the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia and Malaysia.
The men's side finished in fourth place behind winners Canada, and beaten finalists US and Malaysia, with Neal happy with how the team progressed.
"They came last the year before so that was a good improvement."
Playing against the world's best was eye opening.
"The States and Canada have been playing for yonks, but in the last few years here it has started to come up.
"It was really different. You had to be on your game a bit more and tactics came into play rather than just chucking and biffing balls. You had to be pretty on to it.
"It was intense - there were balls flying everywhere."
The game has evolved from that played in different versions over the years at New Zealand schools.
Players have set positions and roles to carry out to give their team the best chance of success. The fastest runners attack the balls at the beginning, while catchers (like Neal) patrol the middle of the court in an attempt to guard the stronger throwers on the flanks.
Neal, who provides plenty of power in the middle order for the Greerton and Bay Development cricket teams, hopes to make the national team again next year ahead of the WDBF Invitational in Hong Kong.
Canada will be the defending champions after beating the US in the men's and women's finals in Queenstown.
