SRC: Six-try Pontypool cruise to 43-10 victory at Swansea

Pooler eventually ground down their winless hosts at St Helen’s to ease to a 43-10 success, earning a four-try bonus and stretching clear in the final quarter to make it a six-point haul.

Tom Hancock’s side played into a strong wind in the first half but still led 12-10 thanks to tries by the young Dragons pair of wing Ioan Duggan and hooker Sam Scarfe.

With the conditions in their favour, Pooler bossed the second half and secured the spoils thanks to powerful finishes by their back-row bruisers Morgan Allen and Scott Matthews.

Swansea were broken and Pontypool showed no mercy with tries from fly-half Kieran Meek, who also kicked 13 points, and back rower Ryan Jones.

Pontypool had gone loss, win, loss, win, loss, win previously in the campaign and broke the sequence by backing up their derby win over Newport.

OPENER: Wing Ioan Duggan of Pontypool runs in to score a try (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

They headed into the break in a strong position thanks to a superb try by Duggan that was created by livewire Dragons scrum-half Morgan Lloyd in the sixth minute.

Swansea led 10-7 thanks to five points from the boot of Josh Phillips and a driving lineout try that was finished by wing Brandon Wood after his pack’s hard work.

However, Pooler responded in kind for Scarfe to give them the edge and they piled the pressure on with the wind at their backs.

A third try should have come after a searing break by centre Joel Mahoney but the offload was forced and wing Jordan Thomas, who was yellow-carded for a high tackle in the first half, knocked on.

Pontypool again failed to land the knockout blow after a couple of huge bursts by Allen but eventually they crashed over through their number eight after a strong scrum.

The bonus quickly followed through Matthews after he combined with full-back Huw Anderson before finishing powerfully.

LIVELY: Dragons full-back Huw Anderson was a threat for Pontypool (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

Pooler twisted the knife through the boot of Kieran Meek with a penalty to extend the gap to protect their extra bonus.

The fly-half then finished with a try after a superb break by impact sub Matthews – whose exploits earned the man of the match honour – and assist from scrum-half Owain Leonard.

There was still time for young Jones to go over after a line break by Dragons prospect Anderson against a demoralised - and depleted through injury misfortune - Swansea.

Pooler now have a break with their next fixture at home to Aberavon on November 23 when they will try to build on an encouraging start to life under Hancock.

The former fly-half, who initially arrived from Llandovery to be in charge of the backs, replaced legendary head coach Leighton Jones after his shock exit just a week into the campaign.

Flanker Matthews, who is also defence coach, said: "'Hanks' has brought real guidance in terms of how he wants to attack.

"Pontypool traditionally are an around the corner team, he is trying to keep that mould of being a hard-nosed team with tough carries but also having a bit more freedom in wanting to play.

"Being an ex-teacher, his delivery and how he gets the information across is good to understand, he has been really good for us."