Swansea boosted their survival hopes with an impressive bonus point victory over Bedwas in a crunch relegation match.
It was a dream start for the home side when a poor high kick by fly half Dion McIntosh was collected by the Swansea backs. Fly half Steffen Williams chipped through and the bounce favoured centre Joe Thomas, who squeezed between two Bedwas defenders to score. Steffen Williams converted.
A second try soon followed when lock Jay Williams secured a turnover and sent scrum half Matthew Aubrey racing clear down the wing to score in the corner. Steffen Williams missed the conversion.
It could have got even better when centre J Rhys Williams made a break and chipped ahead for Luke Griffiths to chase, but the ball beat the full back and rolled into touch.
A third score soon came when Steffen Williams cut through the middle after throwing a dummy and found winger Ryan Griffiths, who backed his pace to touch down in the corner. Aubrey missed the conversion.
The theme of Swansea profiting from Bedwas mistakes continued and the home side were awarded a penalty after J Rhys Williams was tackled without the ball. Aubrey chipped to the corner, but the move came to nothing thanks to a mistake at the lineout.
Despite the scoreline it was the visitors who dominated up front during the first half and a powerful scrum earned a penalty. Centre Lewis Bowden lost possession in contact though and Swansea were able to clear.
Aubrey found touch a few metres from the try line after Bedwas were penalised for collapsing a maul. The Swansea forwards mauled towards the whitewash, but were guilty of obstruction, allowing the visitors to clear.
On the stroke of half time Aubrey kicked his side into a 20-0 lead with a penalty goal after the visitors crept offside in midfield.
Half-time:- Swansea 20 Bedwas 0
The visitors registered their first points courtesy of a Joseph Scrivens penalty goal after the Whites stepped offside at the breakdown.
Bedwas continued to show their intent as prop Rhys Hutcherson charged into the twenty-two, but winger Adam Williams was held up over the line as the ball was spread out wide. Swansea defended well and managed to clear downfield.
Replacement centre Jordan Rees was shown a yellow card for a professional foul, giving the Whites another attacking platform. It was almost a fourth try for the home side, but substitute fly half Chris Morgans was bundled into touch a metre short of the line.
The Swansea pack was penalised for collapsing a maul and from the lineout replacement hooker Dale Rogers powered over for a try to give the visitors a lifeline. Fly half Scrivens converted.
The home side were soon back on the attack through replacement flanker Jon Vaughan and Morgans. Ryan Griffiths was brought down just short of the line, before substitute flanker Morgan Morris charged over to clinch his side’s bonus point try. Aubrey’s conversion attempt was charged down.
The home side clinched a hard earned victory when the forwards powered towards the line, before the backs got quick ball out wide for Joe Thomas to score his second try. Aubrey missed the conversion.
Next up for Swansea is a home match against Aberavon, while Bedwas travel to Pontypridd.
Full-time:- Swansea 30 Bedwas 10
Swansea:
Tries:- Joe Thomas (2, 78), Matthew Aubrey (7), Ryan Griffiths (17), Morgan Morris (72)
Cons:- Steffen Williams (3)
Pens:- Matthew Aubrey (40+12)
Bedwas:
Tries:- Dale Rogers (65)
Cons:- Joseph Scrivens (66)
Pens:- Joseph Scrivens (43)
Yellow cards:- Jordan Rees (53)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Light rain showers, 11C
Man of the match:- Jon Fox
Attendance:- 300
Swansea team:
15 Luke Griffiths (rep: R Rhys Williams 20)
14 Gareth Rees
13 Joe Thomas
12 J Rhys Williams
11 Ryan Griffiths
10 Steffen Williams (rep: Chris Morgans 20)
9 Matthew Aubrey
1 Tom Sloane (rep: Rhys Davies 56)
2 Paul John (rep: Dewi Lake 56)
3 Mitchell Walsh (rep: Alex Jefferies 43)
4 James Ratti (rep: Will Griffiths 40+10)
5 Jay Williams
6 Duane Eager (rep: Jon Vaughan 61)
7 Callum Bowden (rep: Morgan Morris 70)
8 Jon Fox ©
Replacements:
16 Dewi Lake
17 Rhys Davies
18 Alex Jefferies
19 Will Griffiths
20 Morgan Morris
21 Jon Vaughan
22 Chris Morgans
23 R Rhys Williams
Bedwas team:
15 Joseph Scrivens
14 Patric Lewis
13 Tom Hoppe
12 Lewis Bowden (rep: Jordan Rees 41)
11 Adam Williams
10 Dion McIntosh (rep: Jacob Chilcott 59)
9 Tom Rowlands (rep: Luke Crane 54)
1 Brynley Toms (rep: Dale Rogers 61)
2 Mike Dacey (rep: Tom Devine 41)
3 Rhys Hutcherson (rep: Ellis Evans 68)
4 Joe Davies
5 Craig Hudd
6 Jonathan Armitage
7 Sion Parry (rep: James Richards 37 (rep: Gareth Allen 61))
8 Nathan Hudd ©
Replacements:
16 Dale Rogers
17 Tom Devine
18 Ellis Evans
19 Gareth Allen
20 James Richards
21 Luke Crane
22 Jacob Chilcott
23 Jordan Rees