Success for Swans after derby day drama at St Helen’s

SWANSEA took home the Ospreys derby spoils against Neath in a frantic match at St Helen’s.

The home side went ahead inside the opening ten minutes after great work by the forwards allowed fly-half Phil Jones to grubber kick through the middle for the chasing Andrew Claypole to score. Owen Howe converted.

A huge scrum by the All Blacks’ pack saw Charlie Davies and Leon Ward both come close to scoring. Then, another set-piece by the visitors forced the Whites backwards, giving Simon Rees no option but to award a penalty try.

The home side took a deserved lead when flanker Jay Williams was driven over for a try from a closerange lineout. Howe missed the conversion.

Swansea extended their advantage almost immediately after half-time when they regathered the ball quickly to allow Claypole to draw in the Neath defence and send Jedd Evans over for a try. Swansea grabbed a well-earned bonus point try from a lineout with Adam Thresher charging across the whitewash from close range.

It sparked Neath into life with the dominant Blacks’ pack marching forward at a scrum to send winger Alec Jenkins over for a try.

Soon after, the winger bagged his second try in the corner, but in the closing stages replacement Geraint Llewellyn agonisingly dropped an interception that would have resulted in a certain try under the posts. Star man Matt Dodd - Swansea