By: Paul Hopkins
League leaders Cardiff kept their composure to earn a hard fought bonus point victory over the All Whites, who could feel unlucky to only secure a single bonus point.
The signs weren’t great for Swansea when the pack retreated at the first scrum, but Luke Davies was still able to fire the ball out wide to winger Harri Houston, although he was well tackled.
The Blue and Blacks were in possession soon after, though centre Steffan Emmanuel was penalised for holding on after the tackle. Full back Josh Phillips opted to kick at goal slotted the ball neatly between the posts.
Lock Joe Greaves took a lineout on half way and a Luke Davies box kick was taken by full back Matty Young, although the resulting clearance kick gave Swansea another lineout closer to the Cardiff 22, only for a mistake to bring an end to the move.
A superb crossfield kick by fly half Harri Williams was slightly too far for the chasing Houston, so the visitors looked to counterattack through winger Dewi Cross, who raced 40 metres upfield. The home side then gave away a penalty, which fly half Harri Williams chipped up to the 22.
Winger Callum Dodd was penalised for taking Young out in the air and fly half Harri Wilde found touch midway between half way and the Swansea 22, although hooker Gavin Parry failed to throw straight at the lineout.
A fantastic 50/22 grubber kick by Luke Davies gave Swansea attacking possession within the visitors’ 22. Prop Kian Hire powered through and centre Joe Thomas was wrapped up, with number eight Luca Giannini also stopped on the line, before the ball was recycled to Luke Davies who burrowed over for a try. Full back Josh Phillips converted.
Williams dropped a high ball to give Cardiff a much needed spell of possession, but outstanding tackling by the home side prevented them from breaking away, forcing Young to kick to touch.
Number eight Benji Williams stole in at the back of the lineout and made a break upfield, and then an excellent break by Emmanuel split the Whites’ defence and he handed a scoring pass to scrum half Ethan Lloyd. Wilde converted.
Benji Williams used his power to break a couple of Whites tackles and winger Tom Bowen dancing his way past a few tackles as well, before a clever chip by Wilde sent Cross over for what seemed to be a superb try, but play was brought back for a penalty as the visitors were guilty of obstruction.
Another break by Benji Williams caused panic in the Swansea defence and he threw out a pass meant for Cross on the wing, but replacement winger Lewis Edwards managed to intercept.
However, the home side were soon back in possession with a fantastic break by Bowen giving the backs space to stretch their legs with Wilde chipping through for Bowen to score in the corner. Wilde converted.
A superb penalty touch finder by Williams gave the home side a lineout on the 22, but the set piece malfunctioned and the Blue and Blacks were able to run it clear.
Another 50/22 kick by Luke Davies got the home side back on the front foot with attacking possession inside the Cardiff 22. Centre Sam Matthews powered forward and a chip through by Luke Davies was almost collected by Houston, but Cardiff were able to steal possession. However, play was brought back for a penalty which Williams chipped to the corner, but flanker Geraint Powell spilled the ball forward.
Young dropped a high ball, gifting the home side an attacking lineout, but Hugh Gustafson’s men yet again misfired at the set piece.
Lock Chris Thompson charged down a kick and the home side got quick ball out wide to Edwards, but he threw a pass direct to Emmanuel, who cleared.
Half-time:- Swansea 10-14 Cardiff
Immediately after the interval, Benji Williams fumbled the restart and his side also gave away a penalty, which Williams chipped into the corner.
Greaves took the lineout and the home side rumbled towards the line, but the visitors gave away a penalty. Greaves took it quickly and from the next play number eight Luca Giannini crashed over for a try. Phillips converted.
An outstanding move by the home side almost resulted in a try when Houston and Thomas combined to make yards downfield, with Luke Davies feeding both Hire and Greaves, but the Whites gave away a penalty at the crucial moment.
The Cardiff defensive line found themselves penalised for diving into a ruck from the side, allowing Phillips to chip deep into the corner. Chris Thompson took the lineout, although Phillips managed to rescue a miscued a miss pass but his side lost possession.
It was dreamland for the All Whites moments later when Giannini took a crash ball from the lineout and raced 20 metres in to score under the posts. Phillips converted.
Moments later the visitors made their way upfield and a long pass out wide saw Bowen stroll over for a try in the corner. Wilde missed the conversion.
Young almost broke through a tackle as the visitors looked to strike again, but Phillips’ high kick was taken by Bowen, who broke through a couple of weak tackles to send Benji Williams powering forward. Bowen then glided past another tackle to send Benji Williams over for a try under the posts. Wilde converted.
Replacement lock Matt Dodd collected the restart and hooker Lewis Lloyd charged down the wing, but a poor Iwan Temblett pass was intercepted by replacement full back Joe Goodchild who raced 50 metres to score under the posts. Wilde converted.
Matthews picked up a loose ball and raced up to the 22, but he was well tackled and the visitors cleared. However Williams then chipped the ball up to the Cardiff 22, but the resulting Swansea lineout wasn’t straight.
A superb break by Phillips almost resulted in a try with Temblett providing support, but he wasn’t able to get a clean pass away and the Blue and Blacks cleared.
Goodchild showed great speed to race through a tackle, but a potentially scoring pass was knocked forward by Temblett, who was promptly yellow carded.
It was a sixth try for the visitors soon after when a superb pass out wide saw Bowen back his pace to finish his own personal hat trick in the corner. Wilde missed the conversion.
The home side looked to regain a foothold in the match with flanker Dan Gemine powering forward and Houston then sprinted down the wing, but he was well tackled. Cross was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and Williams chipped to the corner, but Chris Thompson spilled the lineout forward.
Dodd took a lineout as the home side went in search for a couple of bonus points and a fantastic crossfield kick by Williams was taken by replacement centre Brandon Wood, who touched down in the corner. Phillips missed the conversion though so the home side finish just a single point from the match.
Next up for Swansea is a trip to champions Llandovery, while Cardiff host Aberavon.
Full-time:- Swansea 29-38 Cardiff
Swansea:
Tries:- Luke Davies (18), Luca Giannini (45, 54), Brandon Wood (80+5)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (19, 46, 55)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (4)
Yellow cards:- Aron Hemmings (70)
Cardiff:
Tries:- Ethan Lloyd (22), Tom Bowen (27, 56, 74), Benji Williams (60), Steffan Emmanuel (62)
Cons:- Harri Wilde (23, 28, 61, 63)
Yellow cards:- Dewi Cross (79)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Sunny, 13C
Referee:- Rhys Jones
Man of the match:- Tom Bowen
Attendance:- 900
Swansea team:
15 Josh Phillips
14 Callum Dodd (rep: Lewis Edwards 19)
13 Joe Thomas
12 Sam Matthews (rep: Brandon Wood 76)
11 Harri Houston
10 Harri Williams
9 Luke Davies (rep: Aron Hemmings 49)
1 Ed Thompson (rep: Freddie Chapman 68)
2 Lewis Lloyd (rep: Ellis Fackrell 68)
3 Kian Hire (rep: Chris Davies 61)
4 Joe Greaves
5 Chris Thompson
6 Geraint Powell (rep: Matt Dodd 49)
7 Dan Gemine
8 Luca Giannini (rep: Cai Davies 55)
Replacements:
16 Ellis Fackrell
17 Freddie Chapman
18 Chris Davies
19 Matt Dodd
20 Cai Davies
21 Aron Hemmings
22 Lewis Edwards
23 Brandon Wood
Cardiff team:
15 Matty Young (rep: Joe Goodchild 61)
14 Tom Bowen
13 Elijah Evans
12 Steffan Emmanuel (rep: Kodie Stone 66)
11 Dewi Cross
10 Harri Wilde
9 Ethan Lloyd (rep: Sion Davies 71)
1 Marc Thomas (rep: Jared Williams 61)
2 Gavin Parry (rep: Alun Rees 53)
3 Tom Harper
4 Ethan Phillips (rep: Evan Rees 71)
5 Craig Hudd ©
6 Aled Ward
7 Lucas de la Rua (rep: Tom Rice 61)
8 Benji Williams
Replacements:
16 Alun Rees
17 Jared Williams
18 Christian Brooke
19 Evan Rees
20 Tom Rice
21 Sion Davies
22 Joe Goodchild
23 Kodie Stone