A late penalty try kept Pontypridd in the hunt for a first Premiership triumph in the semi-pro era but they had to come back from a 14 point deficit after only five minutes.
Swansea came straight out of the blocks from kick off when Nicky Thomas spotted a gap in midfield, used his pace to beat a defender, before floating a pass out to Jordan Scudmore who scored. James Dixon converted.
The Whites got their second try after just five minutes when Eli Walker picked up possession on the wing before sprinting past six defenders to finish clinically under the posts. Dixon converted.
It took the visitors 22 minutes to register their first points when centre Adam Thomas made a break and was supported by Lewis I Williams, who managed to duck out of a tackle on the line to score. Lewis K Williams converted.
Pontypridd were right back in the match seven minutes later when Adam Thomas intercepted a loose pass on halfway before beating the covering Thomas to score. Lewis K Williams missed the conversion.
The home side had the final say of the half when centre Stefan Watermeyer caught the visitors’ defence asleep as he ghosted through in midfield to score under the posts. Dixon converted.
Half-time:- Swansea 21 Pontypridd 12
Pontypridd took just two minutes after the interval to cut the deficit courtesy of a Lewis K Williams penalty goal after the Whites’ defence were caught offside in midfield. A good move involving Gary Williams and Huw Dowden almost sent Dafydd Lockyer over but the centre failed to take a difficult pass.
After a long period of pressure the visitors finally got their third try after a long pass by Lewis I Williams sent Harley Thomson over for a try out wide. Lewis K Williams missed the conversion.
Flanker James Bija began a promising attack for the All Whites but Dixon was tackled a metre short of the line. However Pontypridd were caught offside in midfield so the fly half was able to extend the lead with a penalty goal.
The visitors took the lead for the first time in the match after 65 minutes when a patient build up by the forwards was capitalised on by Dowden who picked up at the base of a ruck to score. Lewis K Williams missed the conversion.
Gary Williams and Lockyer charged through the middle but they were held up a metre short of the line. However the visitors were not to be denied and a powerful scrum earned a penalty try to seal victory. Lewis K Williams converted.
Pontypridd now host high flying Llandovery where they know a win should seal a place in the Premiership title playoffs.
Full-time:- Swansea 24 Pontypridd 32
Referee:- Neil Hennessy
Weather:- Cloudy, 9C
Man of the match:- Gary Williams
Swansea scorers:
Tries:- Scudmore (2), Walker (5), Watermeyer (37)
Cons:- Dixon (3, 6, 38)
Pens:- Dixon (58)
Pontypridd scorers:
Tries:- Lewis I Williams (22), A Thomas (29), Thomson (47), G Williams (65), Penalty Try (80+2)
Cons:- Lewis K Williams (23, 80+3)
Pens:- Lewis K Williams (42)
Swansea team:
15 N Thomas (rep: R Evans 40+4)
14 J Scudmore
13 A Jenkins (rep: L Harrhy 76)
12 S Watermeyer
11 E Walker
10 J Dixon
9 R Wells (rep: J Preddy 72)
1 R Jones
2 P John (rep: A Rees 40)
3 A Clatworthy (rep: I Williams 72)
4 J Jones (rep: B Davies 80+3)
5 R Kelly
6 A Gwynne (rep: S Jones 66)
7 J Bija
8 D Baker
Pontypridd team:
15 H Thomson (rep: G Wyatt 62)
14 L I Williams
13 A Thomas (rep: G Williams 30)
12 D Lockyer
11 M Nuthall
10 L K Williams
9 L Jones (rep: R Downes 76)
1 S Williams (rep: R Harford 59)
2 D Harris (rep: H Dowden 30)
3 P Palmer
4 C Hill
5 C Dicomidis
6 J Thomas (rep: C Locke 68)
7 W O’Connor
8 D Godfrey
