Swansea 33 Llanelli 5

By: Paul Hopkins

It was a perfect start to the 2019/20 for the All Whites as they eased to a 33-5 bonus point victory over old rivals Llanelli.

The visitors were dealt an early blow when they lost captain Johnny Lewis to injury after just two minutes.

The home side were handed an early attacking chance following a poor wayward lineout throw by hooker Greg George. Offside at the ruck gifted Swansea a penalty which fly half James Davies slotted between the posts.

Scrum half Chris Morgans took a quick penalty in midfield but full back Ashley Sutton intercepted a loose pass, although the try opportunity was lost when centre Bleddyn Davies spilled the ball forward.

James Davies doubled the Swansea lead with a second penalty goal after the Llanelli defence crept offside in midfield to spoil an attack.

But the visitors struck gold when Sutton caught the Swansea defence napping and sprinted through the middle, throwing a long pass out wide for winger Rhydian Williams to score. Opposite number Brandon Wood was yellow carded during the move for a high tackle. Fly half Tadhg McGuckin missed the conversion.

Swansea appeared to have grabbed their first try through winger Nathan Trowbridge, but play was brought back for a knock on.

With their pack dominating proceedings the home side chose to kick to the corner from a penalty. Lock Shaun O’Rourke rose high to collect the lineout with number eight Jon Fox driven over for a try on his 100th appearance for the club. James Davies converted.

Full back Max Nagy danced past a couple of Llanelli tackles as the Whites attacked again, but the final pass to centre Gareth Rees was forward, bringing an end to the move.

A well worked move by the Swansea backs resulted in a second try for the All Whites when Fox threw a scoring pass out wide to Nagy. James Davies missed the conversion.

 

Half-time:-   Swansea   18   Llanelli   5

 

Swansea began the second half on the attack and centre Jack Evans found touch inside the Llanelli twenty-two, but a poor lineout throw by hooker Owen Thomas allowed the visitors to clear.

But the home side were soon back in possession and a high tackle by flanker Sion Jones gifted James Davies a simple three points.

Rees did well to intercept a loose pass, giving his side an attacking platform, but a poor pass out wide by flanker Callum Bowden sailed into touch.

Swansea were back on the attack and lock Owen Morgan took the lineout, before a clever crossfield kick by James Davies saw Wood collect to score in the corner. James Davies missed the conversion.

Prop Craig Thomas was yellow carded for a professional foul as the visitors’ discipline deserted them. From the scrum, Nagy raced clear to score the Whites’ bonus point try. Steffen Williams converted.

In the closing stages Flanker Nathan Hart sprinted 30 metres upfield and found Rhydian Williams, but support was slow to arrive and the home side were able to disrupt play and force a mistake.

Full-time:-   Swansea   33   Llanelli   5

Swansea:

Tries:-   Jon Fox (30), Max Nagy (40+3, 67), Brandon Wood (60)

Cons:-   James Davies (31, 61), Steffen Williams (68)

Pens:-   James Davies (9, 16, 45)

Yellow cards:-   Brandon Wood (19)

 

Llanelli:

Tries:-   Rhydian Williams (19)

Yellow cards:-   Craig Thomas 63)

 

Match facts:

Venue:-   St Helen’s, Swansea

Weather:-   Light cloud, 17C

Man of the match:-   Shaun O’Rourke

Attendance:-   400

 

Swansea team:

15 Max Nagy

14 Brandon Wood (rep: Keiran Charles 61)

13 Gareth Rees

12 Jack Evans

11 Nathan Trowbridge

10 James Davies (rep: Steffen Williams 61)

9 Chris Morgans (rep: Tom Lucas 68)

1 Tom Sloane (rep: Eddie Drake 69)

2 Owen Thomas (rep: Matthew Moore 50)

3 Greg Cunniffe (rep: Alun Dew 69)

4 Shaun O’Rourke

5 Owen Morgan (rep: Huw Sutton 61)

6 Duane Eager

7 Callum Bowden

8 Jon Fox © (rep: Harry Davies 69)

 

Replacements:

16 Matthew Moore

17 Eddie Drake

18 Alun Dew

19 Huw Sutton

20 Harry Davies

21 Tom Lucas

22 Steffen Williams

23 Keiran Charles

 

Llanelli team:

15 Ashley Sutton

14 Rhydian Williams

13 Bleddyn Davies

12 Johnny Lewis © (rep: Zac Chambers 3)

11 Liam Hutchins

10 Tadhg McGuckin (rep: Tom Williams 61)

9 Steffan Davies (rep: Griff Williams 61)

1 Craig Thomas (rep: Rhys Cherry 72-80+4)

2 Greg George

3 Gareth Harvard (rep: Adam Thomas 50 (rep: Dylan Lawley 54))

4 Matthew Donohue

5 Ed Couzens (rep: Joe Williams 46 (rep: Rhys Cherry 66-72, 80+4))

6 Sion Jones

7 Nathan Hart

8 Elis Hopkins

Replacements:

 

16 Rhys Cherry

17 Dylan Lawley

18 Adam Thomas

19 Joe Williams

20 Josh Weeds

21 Griff Williams

22 Tom Williams

23 Zac Chambers