By: Paul Hopkins
The All Whites put to bed 15 years of hurt as they defeated champions Llandovery for the first time in 28 matches, in a truly remarkable display at St Helen’s.
The omens didn’t look good at the beginning though as flanker Jordan Evans took a lineout on half way and his side were awarded a penalty soon after, which fly half Jack Maynard chipped up to the 22. The Drovers got quick ball from the lineout and Maynard dummied a pass and raced in the score the opening try. He missed the conversion though.
Lock Ben Roberts charged down a George McDonald kick and centre Callum Dodd tried to race forward, although the Llandovery defence killed the bell, with fly half Josh Phillips chipping into the corner. Lock Chris Thompson took the lineout and the home side kept the ball tight with prop Daf Davies squeezing over for a try. Phillips converted.
Centre Joe Thomas pounced on a Llandovery mistake and found Roberts in support, with Daf Davies also charging forward, but Dodd’s chip through was dealt with by centre Rhodri Davies.
A second try soon followed when Joe Thomas made a break through the middle and found scrum half Matthew Aubrey on his shoulder, with the scrum half racing in to score under the posts. Phillips converted.
Winger Lewis Edwards made a superb break out wide, but his pass back inside was forward, giving Llandovery a turnover.
Full back Harri Houston made a superb break following an advancing Whites scrum, with number eight Cai Davies taking the ball further, forcing the visitors to kill the ball. Phillips chipped to the corner and Roberts collected the lineout as the home side injected pace, before Chris Thompson crashed over for a try. Phillips converted.
Seconds later and Llandovery grabbed a second try when number eight Stuart Worrall claimed the restart and fed McDonald, who burst past a tackler to score under the posts. Maynard converted.
Houston made a superb break through the middle, cutting through the Llandovery defence like a knife through butter, but he lost the ball forward over the line after a superb Drovers last ditch tackle.
Swansea were back in a decent territorial position after a poor pass by Maynard was intercepted by Phillips, who got his side up to the visitors’ 22.
Centre Kian Abraham made a break through the middle and was well tackled, with the home side awarded a penalty after support was too slow to arrive and he held on after the tackle. Phillips found touch mid way between half way and the Drovers’ 22.
Chris Thompson took a lineout on half way and a clever dummy by Cai Davies almost saw him break through, and although Llandovery stole possession, flanker Evan Sheldon knocked the ball forward.
The home side battered the Llandovery line again and Daf Davies charged towards the line and was stopped, before Aubrey spotted a gap and crashed over for a bonus point try. Phillips converted.
Dodd made a break with the Drovers’ defence struggling to get him down, as Aubrey made further yards into the 22 and winger Iwan Glynn was tackled out wide, but prop Kian Hire lost the ball forward to signal half time.
Half-time:- Swansea 28-12 Llandovery
Flanker Joe Greaves took a lineout inside the Llandovery half and Houston and Lewis Edwards linked up to get the Whites powering towards the line, but an off the ball incident saw the visitors awarded a penalty.
Winger Llien Morgan tried to a chip and go out wide after the visitors stole the ball at the breakdown, but the ball bounced into touch a few metres short.
A poor kick by Joe Thomas sailed out on the full to gift Llandovery a lineout just shy of the Swansea 22. Evans took the lineout, but Rhodri Davies lost the ball forward under pressure.
A clever box kick by Aubrey was taken by the visitors but they were penalised for blocking. Evans stole in at the back of a lineout though and hacked the ball clear.
The home side continued to attack with flanker Callum Bowden feeding Phillips, and Houston just about held onto a tackle, before an inside pass saw Joe Thomas touch down under the posts. Phillips converted.
Swansea’s sixth score was a try for the ages as almost every member of the back line were involved as they raced through from half way and used hands, before Aubrey touched down for his hat trick try. Phillips converted.
The visitors looked to hit back through replacement scrum half Lee Rees, but he was well tackled and the Whites were able to turnover possession, although the move broke down.
Replacement fly half Ioan Hughes chipped to the corner with a penalty as the Drovers looked to get a foothold in the game. Another penalty followed with replacement hooker Jamie Cox yellow carded. This time Drovers got the ball out from the lineout with winger Harri Doel scoring in the corner. Hughes missed the conversion.
Substitute prop Cameron Jones thought he’d raced through the middle for a score, but play was brought back for crossing, so Hughes chipped up to the 22, but a forward pass brought an end to the move.
Full back Jac Davies took a high kick and the visitors looked to attack through their backs, but Doel was well wrapped up by Cornelius, before a knock on brought an end to the move.
A chip and chase by Cornelius was taken by replacement scrum half Iwan Temblett and the home side kept the ball tight, before giving away a penalty.
Llandovery had the final say when Doel made a break down the wing after good work by the backs and replacement prop Guto Jones charged forward, before Worrall crashed over for a try. Hughes converted.
It was nothing more than a consolation for the Drovers though as the final whistle sounded moments later to hand the All Whites a first win over Llandovery since 2010.
Full-time:- Swansea 42-24 Llandovery
Swansea:
Tries:- Daf Davies (9), Matthew Aubrey (12, 40+2, 55), Chris Thompson (19), Joe Thomas (53)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (10, 13, 20, 40+3, 54, 56)
Yellow cards:- Jamie Cox (64)
Llandovery:
Tries:- Jack Maynard (6), George MacDonald (20), Harri Doel (65), Stuart Worrall 80)
Cons:- Jack Maynard (21), Ioan Hughes (80+1)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Light cloud, 10C
Referee:- Matthew Leon
Man of the match:- Matthew Aubrey
Attendance:- 500
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Iwan Glynn (rep: Jamie Cox 68-74)
13 Callum Dodd
12 Joe Thomas (rep: Ieuan Cornelius 61)
11 Lewis Edwards
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett 67)
1 Daf Davies (rep: Cameron Jones 50)
2 Will Austin (rep: Jamie Cox 50)
3 Kian Hire (rep: Ed Thompson 50)
4 Chris Thompson (rep: Liam Edwards 58)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Joe Greaves
7 Callum Bowden ©
8 Cai Davies (rep: Owen Thomas 58)
Replacements:
16 Jamie Cox
17 Cameron Jones
18 Ed Thompson
19 Liam Edwards
20 Owen Thomas
21 Iwan Temblett
22 Tal Rees
23 Ieuan Corenelius
Llandovery team:
15 Jac Davies
14 Harri Doel
13 Kian Abraham (rep: Adam Warren 38)
12 Rhodri Jones
11 Llien Morgan
10 Jack Maynard (rep: Ioan Hughes 54)
9 George MacDonald (rep: Lee Rees 54)
1 Jamie Hughes (rep: Luke Tucker 76)
2 Harry Thomas (rep: Cai Howell 54)
3 Berian Watkins (rep: Guto Jones 66)
4 Ed Scragg
5 Joe Powell © (rep: Finn Thomas 66)
6 Evan Sheldon (rep: Taylor Davies 80)
7 Jordan Evans
8 Stuart Worrall
Replacements:
16 Taylor Davies
17 Luke Tucker
18 Guto Jones
19 Finn Thomas
20 Cai Howell
21 Adam Warren
22 Ioan Hughes
23 Lee Rees