Cross Keys 3 v 39 Whites
17 Jan 2009 - St Helens
Swansea won their first league match since October with a 39-3 demolition of Cross Keys. The Whites scored six top class tries in the process including three for full back Nicky Thomas.
Cross Keys were awarded the first penalty after Leigh Bevan mistimed his run ahead of Rhodri Wells’ box kick but fly half Joe Deacon failed with his effort at goal. Thomas, back after a few months out injured, failed to deal with a chip through and Carl Pocock came close with a break before the Keys forwards piled in over the top.
Holding on the floor by Chris Shelmerdine gave Keys another penalty but Deacon’s effort sailed wide of the post. The first try of the game came after 13 minutes when a fluid move involving Marc Popham, Bevan and Shelmerdine set up Steffan Jones for the score. James Dixon converted.
Thomas threatened with a searing break but he was unable to get his pass away. However hands in the ruck by the visitors gave Swansea a penalty which Dixon converted.
Steffan Jones should have grabbed another try after a promising attack involving Shelmerdine, Bevan and Richard Payne but he knocked on with the line at his mercy.
Cross Keys registered their first points of the match with a Deacon penalty goal after Dixon made a mess of a clearance and held on in the tackle. Shelmerdine made a good break through the middle, beating three defenders before his pass to Bevan was forward.
The Whites surged further into the lead just a minute before half time as Wells made a sniping run and linked well with David Watts to send Kiley crashing over for a try. Dixon’s conversion was scuffed well short.
Half-Time:- Swansea 15 Cross Keys 3
After the interval, the home side continued where they left off as Watts nearly sent in Payne before a good passing move saw Thomas exploit an overlap out wide to score. Dixon failed with his conversion attempt. Dixon opted to kick for touch with a kickable penalty after the Keys defence crept offside but Wells knocked on at the base of a ruck to bring an end to the move.
Thomas scored his second try of the match on 56 minutes after Wells, Dixon and Payne linked well from a set piece to send the full back powering over to claim a bonus point. Dixon’s conversion hit the post. Swansea began another exciting move involving Watts and Payne before Shelmerdine showed his pace to score out wide. Dixon converted. Thomas rounded off a superb comeback match with a hat trick try just before the end after good work by man of the match Steffan Jones and Bevan sent him over under the posts. Dixon converted.
The win keeps Swansea in 11th place but will allow them to breathe easier with daylight between them and the bottom three. Next up is a cup match at Bridgend Athletic with the St Helen’s side odds on favourites to make it three wins in a row.
Full-Time:- Swansea 32 Cross Keys 3
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Cloudy, 8C
Competition:- Principality Premiership
Referee:- Tim Hayes
Swansea Scorers:- S. Jones (Try), Dixon (3 Cons, Pen), Kiley (Try), Thomas (3 Tries), Shelmerdine (Try)
Cross Keys Scorers:- Deacon (Pen)
Swansea Team:- 15 N. Thomas 14 C. Shelmerdine 13 R. Payne (rep: Rhys Jones) 12 D. Watts (rep: J. Stuart) 11 L. Bevan 10 J. Dixon 9 R. Wells (rep: P. Tucker) 1 Roy Jones 2 A. Joy (rep: A. Wyn-Davies) 3 A. Clatworthy (rep: D. Matthews) 4 G. Ronan (rep: H. Alford) 5 R. Kelly 6 S. Kiley 7 M. Popham (rep: R. Ruddock) 8 S. Jones
By Paul Hopkins
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