By: Paul Hopkins
Llanelli ran in five tries to defeat Swansea and boost their hopes of Premiership survival.
The home side took an early lead when full back Kalum Evans sprinted through a gap in the Swansea defence and found centre Paul Asquith in support, before number eight Elliot Rees exploited an overlap to charge over for a try in the corner. Winger Tom Prydie converted.
The visitors were penalised for failing to release the man in the tackle, but Prydie missed his effort at goal.
Swansea earned a penalty, which fly half Steffen Williams chipped to the corner. The Llanelli pack managed to stop a Whites’ rolling maul and Evans did well to prevent Williams from touching down after the fly half’s deft chip and chase.
Lock Chris Long ripped possession out of a tackle to set up a home attack and scrum half Declan Smith thought he had scored a second Llanelli try, but play was brought back for a penalty after the pass by flanker Joe Miles was adjudged to be forward.
The respite for Swansea didn’t last long though as a well worked move by the home forwards saw flanker Dan Davis crash over for a try. Prydie missed the conversion.
The Llanelli backs looked unstoppable at times and almost created a third score, but Davis was tackled into touch a metre short of the line. The home side were awarded a penalty though and fly half Steff Hughes chipped to the corner.
Lock Tom Price collected the lineout and the home pack drove over the line with hooker Taylor Davies claiming the try. Prydie converted.
A powerful scrum by the Whites’ front eight earned a penalty and Steffen Williams kicked to the corner. Lock Matt Dodd rose to catch the lineout, but he was unable to release the ball, giving Llanelli a turnover.
Evans sprinted past three Swansea tacklers from deep, but winger Ryan Davies spilled a pass that would have resulted in a certain try.
Great handling by the home backs saw Llanelli easily cut through the Swansea defence, with Rees dummying his way over for his second try and a bonus point on the half hour mark. Prydie converted.
A superb touch finder by centre R Rhys Williams gave Swansea a rare attacking opportunity. Prop Rhys Fawcett illegally brought down a maul and he was promptly shown a yellow card with the Whites’ first points arriving through a penalty try.
With a man advantage the visitors looked to get back into the match and enjoyed a great deal of territory and possession, but a mistake near the try line gifted possession back to the home side.
Half-time:- Llanelli 26 Swansea 7
An elementary mistake by Miles at the restart gave Swansea a scrum inside the Llanelli twenty-two. Replacement centre Jedd Evans made a line break and the home backs were penalised for offside in midfield. R Rhys Williams kicked to the corner and Dodd took the lineout as the visitors drove forward, but Steffen Williams held on for too long in the tackle.
The home side were back on the scoresheet when Asquith made a devastating break and drew in a tackler to send Prydie over for a try in the corner. Prydie’s conversion attempt hit the post.
Hooker Ifan Phillips combined with number eight Charlie Davies as Swansea looked to hit back and quick ball out wide saw flanker Callum Bowden touch down for his side’s second try. Steffen Williams converted.
With their backs in total command Evans was denied a sixth Llanelli try after play was brought back for a forward pass.
Swansea were handed a lifeline when a determined pack drove into the heart of the twenty-two, with replacement lock Sam Kiley picking up a loose ball to score under the posts. Steffen Williams converted.
A powerful drive by the Swansea front eight forced Llanelli to concede a penalty, which R Rhys Williams kicked to the corner, but the home defence won crucial possession at the maul.
Swansea went in search of a losing and four try bonus point and R Rhys Williams was brought down a few metres from the line, but Phillips was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
In the dying seconds replacement flanker Jon Fox was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and Prydie sealed victory with a penalty goal.
Full-time:- Llanelli 34 Swansea 21
Llanelli:
Tries:- Elliot Rees (3, 29), Dan Davis (15), Taylor Davies (19), Tom Prydie (53)
Cons:- Tom Prydie (4, 20, 30)
Pens:- Tom Prydie (80+11)
Yellow cards:- Craig Thomas (33)
Swansea:
Tries:- Penalty try (33), Callum Bowden (56), Sam Kiley (75)
Cons:- Steffen Williams (57, 76)
Yellow cards:- Jon Fox (80+11)
Match facts:
Venue:- Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli
Weather:- Sunny, 18C
Man of the match:- Kalum Evans
Attendance:- 400
Llanelli team:
15 Kalum Evans
14 Tom Prydie
13 Paul Asquith
12 Jonny Lewis
11 Ryan Davies
10 Steff Hughes (rep: Ioan Hughes 44)
9 Declan Smith
1 Rhys Fawcett
2 Taylor Davies ©
3 Simon Gardiner (rep: Richard Bassett 18-30, 74)
4 Chris Long
5 Tom Price
6 Joe Miles
7 Dan Davis
8 Elliot Rees (rep: Craig Thomas 34-44, Sam Williams 59)
Replacements:
16 Greg George
17 Craig Thomas
18 Richard Bassett
19 Jake Baker
20 Sam Williams
21 Gareth George
22 Ioan Hughes
23 Liam Hutchings
Swansea team:
15 Jon Bayliss
14 Andrew Claypole
13 R Rhys Williams
12 Mike Evans (rep: Jedd Evans 16)
11 Ryan Griffiths
10 Steffen Williams
9 Chris Morgans (rep: Tom Ham 49)
1 Tom Sloane (rep: Richard Murphy 70)
2 Ifan Phillips
3 Greg Cunniffe (rep: Alex Jeffries 49)
4 James Ratti (rep: Sam Kiley 49)
5 Matt Dodd
6 Duane Eager © (rep: Jon Fox 49)
7 Callum Bowden
8 Charlie Davies (rep: Paul John 76)
Replacements:
16 Paul John
17 Richard Murphy
18 Alex Jeffries
19 Sam Kiley
20 Jon Fox
21 Tom Ham
22 Jedd Evans
23 Foard Cooksley