Words by: Paul Hopkins
Photos by: Riley Sports Photography
It was a true nightmare before Christmas for the All Whites as they were condemned to a bitterly disappointing 0-26 defeat against Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
A pretty non-eventful first half began reasonably well for the Swansea men as they stole possession at a ruck, with a well angled chip to the corner by fly half Josh Phillips almost chased down, but the ball was grounded dead by winger Cori Lewis-Jenkins.
It was the Wizards who were awarded the first penalty, at a scrum near their own 22, and fly half Ed Dunford found touch on half way.
Flanker Rhys Thomas took the lineout and fellow back row man Gwilym Evans made a promising break, but was turned over and the visitors were able to clear. Aberavon ran the ball back though, but centre Frankie Jones was well tackled and Swansea regained possession.
The visitors were awarded a penalty, which scrum half Matthew Aubrey took quickly and made good yards up to the 22, but full back Harri Williams’ chip and chase was well defended by lock Shay Smallman, who tidied up play to allow Dunford to clear.
Aubrey disrupted the ball from reaching opposite number Elis Horgan at a scrum, but the home side recovered and were able to clear. A superb run by winger Callum Dodd out wide almost resulted in a try as he linked up with Williams, but he lost possession forward at the crucial moment.
A powerful rolling maul by the visitors forced the Aberavon forwards to illegally bring it down. Phillips chose to kick to the corner with the penalty and Swansea were able to attack from the lineout, and although prop Cameron Jones powered through a gap, the Whites were deemed to have blocked play, so the Wizards were awarded a relieving penalty.
A mishap in midfield between Phillips and centre Joe Thomas gifted Aberavon possession and Dunford chipped into space, but to their credit, the Swansea defence got back to clear their lines.
Number eight Ashton Evans charged through to set up a Wizards’ attack, but Dunford failed to take the pass and the move broke down.
The home side were awarded another penalty at the scrum and Dunford found touch on half way. A poor throw by hooker Saul Harvey was taken by opposite number Jamie Cox at the back of the lineout and the visitors were awarded a penalty when the Aberavon defence strayed offside. Phillips missed his effort at goal though.
A superb chip through by Phillips forced winger Felix Gilbert to play the ball, and he was bundled into touch by centre Iestyn Galton to give the Whites an attacking lineout.
Lock Matt Dodd took the lineout and the Whites’ pack drove forward, but Williams slipped when he took the pass out wide. Play was brought back for an earlier penalty, which the Swansea men took quickly, but Gwilym Evans was yellow carded for a professional foul, resulting in yet another penalty.
Phillips chipped into the corner, but the Whites overcomplicated the lineout, with flanker Geraint Powell tapping the ball forward, and Aberavon were able to clear.
Smallman collected a lineout, but the visitors were penalised for pushing at the set piece, although Dunford kicked dead with his penalty touch finder in a horrible misjudgement.
Gilbert superbly collected a high kick as the Wizards attacked with extra purpose, and it forced the Whites’ defence offside. This time Dunford made no mistake with his touch finder as he kicked deep into the 22.
Replacement flanker Ben Gregory charged forward, but play was brought back for another penalty, which Dunford again booted to within five metres of the line. Lock James Clegg took the lineout and centre Joe Gage took a crash ball, before lock Ben Roberts was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.
The home side chose a scrum and although a superb tackle by Aubrey disrupted Horgan again, the Wizards were able to recycle the ball, but Ashton Evans dropped possession over the line.
An earlier penalty gave the home side a second chance at an attacking scrum and this time Ashton Evans crashed over for a try from the base of the set piece. Dunford converted.
Half-time:- Aberavon 7-0 Swansea
After the interview Joe Thomas ducked under a tackle and spotted a gap in midfield, with hooker Jamie Cox providing good support as the Whites approached the 22. Matt Dodd then popped up in support, but number eight Joe Greaves spilled the ball forward to bring an end to the move.
Joe Thomas dropped a pass in midfield and Aberavon were able to clear long with a chip ahead, although a try wasn’t awarded much to the disappointment of Gilbert, who thought he had touched down at the corner.
The Wizards came again from the goal line drop out with Gage chipping ahead for Gilbert to chase, but his kick was too strong and comfortably went over the dead ball line.
A box kick by Aubrey was superbly taken by flanker Owen Thomas, but inadvertently threw a pass into Aberavon hands. Instead, it was the home side looked to break away and play went through the hands of Horgan who sprinted upfield, before a well weighted crossfield kick by Dunford was taken by Gilbert, but the winger tripped over five metres from the line with a try at his mercy.
Galton looked to make a break through the middle but his pass to Joe Thomas was knocked forward. Instead, it was the home side back on the attack, although the move broke down soon after.
A well worked move between Dunford and Jones got the Wizards back on the attack, but play was halted when a mini fight broke out, and the Whites were awarded a penalty for retaliation by Aberavon.
Aubrey worked play out of a maul and found Callum Dodd in support, but Powell held on after the tackle and the home side were able to clear with a penalty.
The penalty was taken quickly, much to the surprise of the All Whites and Roberts was penalised for straying in front of the clearance kick. Dunford kicked deep into the Swansea 22 with his touch finder and a good lineout take saw Gilbert come close to scoring, but he lost the ball forward.
The home side took the penalty quickly and a clever crossfield kick was taken by Lewis-Jenkins who touched down for a try in the corner. Dunford converted.
Then a few missed tackles later and the Wizards grabbed a third try through Gilbert, who held off Matt Dodd to score in the corner. Dunford converted.
A poor lineout throw by Cox was collected by the Wizards, who were awarded a penalty after the Whites failed to release the man after the tackle. Dunford found touch a few metres from the line.
Gregory collected the lineout and sent Ashton Evans charging towards the line, but he was held up over the whitewash, but a mistake near the line gifted Aberavon with a scrum five.
The visitors gave away another penalty with Owen Thomas yellow carded for a professional foul. The home side opted for a scrum five, and got quick ball out wide for Gilbert to exploit a gap to score in the corner. Dunford’s conversion attempt hit the crossbar.
Another penalty at the scrum gave Dunford another touch finder inside the Swansea half. The home side tried to attack out wide, but a determined Swansea defence prevented them from gaining any momentum and earned a penalty.
Replacement number eight Sam Pailor took a lineout on the 22, but the Wizards’ power up front gained a turnover, but quick thinking by substitute scrum half Iwan Temblett rescued the situation.
Lewis-Jenkins then made a superb break out wide and was stopped 10 metres short of the line, but replacement number eight Tom Poole lost the ball forward over the line.
The home pack drove their Swansea counterparts off the ball under the posts but Aberavon chose a quick penalty and came unstuck, giving away a penalty, and the final whistle blew shortly after.
The two teams meet again in seven days’ time as the Whites aim to finally break their Super Rygbi Cymru hoodoo.
Full-time:- Aberavon 26-0 Swansea
Aberavon:
Tries:- Ashton Evans (40+6), Cori Lewis-Jenkins (62), Felix Gilbert (65, 75)
Cons:- Ed Dunford (40+7, 63, 66)
Yellow cards:- Gwilym Evans (29)
Swansea:
Yellow cards:- Ben Roberts (40+2), Owen Thomas (73)
Match facts:
Venue:- Talbot Athletic Ground, Port Talbot
Weather:- Cloudy, 12C
Referee:- Andrew Moule
Man of the match:- Ed Dunford
Attendance:- 800
Aberavon team:
15 Scott Delnevo
14 Cori Lewis-Jenkins
13 Frankie Jones (rep: Josh Thomas 76)
12 Joe Gage ©
11 Felix Gilbert
10 Ed Dunford
9 Elis Horgan (rep: Bradley Roderick 73)
1 Jordan Walters (rep: Rowan Jenkins 76)
2 Saul Hurley (rep: Ellis Major 73)
3 Geraint James (rep: Louis Fletcher 76)
4 Shay Smallman
5 James Clegg (rep: Ross Fox 40+1)
6 Rhys Thomas (rep: Ben Gregory 12)
7 Gwilym Evans
8 Ashton Evans (rep: Tom Poole 76)
Replacements:
16 Josh Thomas
17 Bradley Roderick
18 Ellis Major
19 Ben Gregory
20 Rowan Jenkins
21 Tom Poole
22 Louis Fletcher
23 Ross Fox
Swansea team:
15 Harri Williams
14 Ben Ley (rep: Marcus Brown 77)
13 Iestyn Galton
12 Joe Thomas
11 Callum Dodd
10 Josh Phillips (rep: Aron Hemmings 61)
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett 61)
1 Cameron Jones (rep: Daf Davies 73)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Llew Phillips-Taylor 73)
3 Ed Thompson (rep: Chris Davies 77)
4 Matt Dodd (rep: Iestyn Merriman 73)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Geraint Powell
7 Owen Thomas ©
8 Joe Greaves (rep: Sam Pailor 66)
Replacements:
16 Llew Phillips-Taylor
17 Daf Davies
18 Chris Davies
19 Sam Pailor
20 Iestyn Merriman
21 Aron Hemmings
22 Iwan Temblett
23 Marcus Brown