Whites well beaten by Cross Keys

SWANSEA slumped to a third defeat from their opening four Welsh Premiership matches as they were well beaten 25-14 by Cross Keys at St Helen's.

The Gwent outfit edged the first half before moving away from Mefin Davies's side in the second period.

Next the Whites face the daunting prospect of travelling to Llandovery who have won all three of their games so far.

After a slow opening in which a wayward Nicky Thomas penalty was the only opportunity of note, Cross Keys broke the deadlock on 24 minutes.

Wing Nathan Trowbridge was held up five metres out after a darting run and the ball was recycled to full-back Gareth David.

He played a delightful kick to the corner where Elliot Jones was on hand to touch down, and fly-half Dorian Jones landed the difficult conversion.

Dorian Jones then succeeded with a long-range penalty attempt before Swansea got back into the game, helped by a large slice of fortune.

As the Whites broke into Keys' half, John Barley slipped the ball to Sam Kiley whose sliced kick brought groans from the home fans.

But it landed straight into the arms of James McKenna who went over for a try that Thomas converted.

Cross Keys extended their lead early in the second period after mounting sustained pressure on the Swansea line.

Prop Richard Cornock eventually bundled over from close range after only desperate defence had prevented Gareth David gathering a Dorian Jones cross field kick and scoring in the corner.

Dorian Jones again added the extras before knocking over another penalty to put the visitors in charge.

And it got worse for Swansea on 60 minutes when Trowbridge was fed by Aled James and galloped in out wide.

Swansea's star man, fly-half Thomas then converted his own try late on, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

Swansea 14

Tries

J. McKenna

N. Thomas

Cons

N. Thomas (2)

R. Williams; J. Skidmore, C. Shelmerdine, N. Harwood, J. Morgan (repl J. Thomas 55), N. Thomas, A. Lewis (repl W. Batcup 65); M. Norman, P. John, I. Williams (repl N. Thomas 65), S. Kiley (Capt), J. Barley, J. McKenna, D. Baker, J. Bija.

Cross Keys 25

Tries

E. Jones

R. Cornock.

N. Trowbridge

Cons

D. Jones (2)

Pens

D. Jones (2)

G. David, E. Jones, L. Ford (repl L. Williams 72), A. James (D. Gunter 78), N. Trowbridge; D. Jones, R. James (Capt) (Repl R. Dyer 68); R. Cornock (repl J. Johnstone 77), G. Price (repl G. Horigan 77), C. Gould, D. Hodge (repl S. Andrews 72), O. Hodge, J. Sollis, R. Peebles (repl S. Matthews 60), A. Powell.

Referee: Jason Bessant.