Aberavon RFC - The Wizards : Fixtures & Results

Indeed, Owens gave a world-class display as the man in the middle. He ranks with the late Ivor David (Neath) and more recently, Derek Bevan, as the three great Welsh referees of all time, and when world-class sportsmen are counted in Wales, he is right up there.

It was a match that had no right to play after the horrific weather, but the highest praise must go the St Helen's groundstaff in producing an absolutely perfect pitch to watch an interesting and often exciting game of top division rugby.

Aberavon probably deserved to win it. They dominated and controlled much of the play, thanks to their great 'veterans' - Richard Morris and the immaculate Jamie Davies. Yet, Swansea squandered chances as the backs took wrong options, then, they ran splendidly in a great finale.

Aberavon coaches Simon King and Nicky Lloyd were quietly pleased with lifting the St Helen's ground record that had stood from December 29 last year. "They were the form team and we came and won," said King. "I was pleased, yet disappointed that we let them score three tries late on.

"I feel we deserved to win as we controlled the game well for a long period." Lloyd added: "Jamie Davies was outstanding. His tackling and distribution was masterly."

Swansea coach Richard Webster played down an injury list and though naturally disappointed, said: "We gave away points and often played wrongly by cross-kicking and kicking ahead instead of keeping the ball in hand.

"When we did keep it we played well at times, but really we gave them a few too much. It was good to pick up two bonus points, though it was a game we could have won. I was pleased for young Richard Kelly, who took his tries excellently."

Aberavon unearthed a good young scrum half in David Pritchard, who, like Luke Hathaway, scored on his debut. Pritchard may kicked a couple of balls away, but he developed a fine understanding with Morris and Davies at 8 and fly half.

Ian Moore led his pack well, with Marc Breeze and Chris Davies always to hand and Andrew Fisher going well at lock. Davies, though carded, gave a typical fiery performance in the style of Richie McCaw, tackling and linking splendidly.

For Swansea, centre David Watts often went close to breaking the opposing defence and Richard Payne was hard to hold, but Rhys Jones had few chances on his 100th appearance.

Lock Kelly and debutant Steffan Jones were the pick of a pack in which prop Tim Jones loomed big, but for No 8 Steffan Jones, it was a learning curve against Morris, in his 401st game for the Wizards. Jones will soon be a force to be reckoned with.

Jamie Davies opened the scoring with a second-minute penalty and also placed a fine conversion to a seventh-minute try by skipper Moore, after good play by Marc Breeze.

James Dixon missed a penalty, but his partner Phillip Tucker then placed a clever kick that saw hungry All-Whites race after it. Left wing Nicky Thomas was up on the right to gather and score a smart try.

Aberavon responded and Morris cleaned up for Ashley Beck to race away, supported by Carter and then Pritchard, who crossed for Davies to convert, but Dixon made it 17-8 at the break with a penalty.

There was no scoring for 30 minutes before the magnificent Morris went over to increase his Aberavon try-record. Davies converted, but replacement Damien Karuana unloaded for the rampaging Kelly to score his first try.

It was all Aberavon though, as Beck cleverly sent Hathaway off and the centre used wing Steve Davies as a decoy to give full back Leigh Bevan little chance and put Aberavon 16 points in front.

Back came Swansea and after 79 minutes the powerful Kelly again ran well to score with Thomas converting, then Karuana broke from his own half, Payne supported and Steffan Jones ran like to back to go under the posts.

Karuana drop-kicked the conversion, but Owens called time up as the kick went over and Aberavon had gained their first-ever league victory at St Helen's.

SWANSEA..........27
Tries - R. Kelly (2), N. Thomas, S. Jones. Cons - N. Thomas, D. Karuana. Pen - J. Dixon.
Team - L. Bevan; Rhys Jones, R. Payne, D. Watts (repl J. Stuart 69), N. Thomas; J. Dixon (repl D. Karuana 58), P. Tucker (repl Nathan Jones 58); T. Evans, A-W. Davies, D. Matthews (repl Roy Jones 49), G. Ronan (repl H. Alford 58), R. Kelly, S. Kiley, S. Jones, M. Evans (capt).
ABERAVON........29
Tries - I. Moore, D. Pritchard, R. Morris, L. Hathaway. Cons - J. Davies (3). Pen - J. Davies.
Team - P. Bamsey; R. Carter, A. Beck (repl Ricky Thomas 72), L. Hathaway, S. Davies; J. Davies, D. Pritchard;
Neil White (repl L. Howell 72), M. Breeze (repl Brett Thomas 80), P. Breeze (repl J. Jones 79), I. Moore (capt) (repl Nathan White 75), A. Fisher, R. Gallagher (repl D. Thomas 75), R. Morris, C. Davies.
Yellow Card - C. Davies (69-79).
REFEREE - Nigel Owens (Pontyberem).
STAR CHOICES - Richard Kelly (Swansea) and David Pritchard (Aberavon).