Cross Keys 20 Swansea 25

FOR the third time in a week Cross Keys lost a Premiership game they could have won but an exciting and entertaining match against Swansea was a fitting end to the season at Pandy Park.

After narrow defeats to Carmarthen Quins and Cardiff, the Keys suffered the same fate against the Whites.

It was a game of many milestones. It was, allegedly, Ben Watkins’ final game before retiring but the lock gave a fine performance and is certainly capable of going on if he wants to.

Carl Pocock is emigrating to Canada, Gareth David reached 250 points for the season and on the down side for Keys, Hanno Dirksen scored his second hat-trick of tries in a week and helped Swansea back to the top of the table.

Keys were competitive throughout but their line out was poor. The scrum was fine until the second half substitutions changed everything and at the breakdown, Rob Nash, Jevon Groves and Richard Emms, playing out of position at blind side flanker, forced several turnovers.

Behind the scrum, Wales Under-20s centre Matthew Pewtner stood out along with skipper Owen Jones who led his side by example.

David kicked Keys into a 10th minute lead but a minute later a good run by Leigh Bevan took play deep into the Keys 22. The ball was worked across field where Ryan Lee had to come in to tackle David Watts who managed to get the ball away but it bobbled along the ground only for Dirksen to snap it up and get the touchdown.

Four minutes later, James Dixon tried to lob a pass in his own 22 and Groves leapt high to tap the ball up and he caught the rebound to stroll over for a try converted by David and it remained 10-5 until the break.

Watkins was sin-binned for coming into the side of a ruck just before the interval but on this occasion, it didn’t cost Keys.

Dixon kicked a penalty but Keys were still in front going into the final quarter.

Then Swansea marched a maul 20 metres before Rhodri Wells slipped away on the blind side and created space for Dirksen to race clear for his second try converted by Dixon.

David and Dixon exchanged penalties before Dixon followed up a speculative kick and challenged David. Somehow, the ball found its way into Dirksen’s hands and the impressive 18-year-old galloped away for his hat-trick try which Dixon converted.

Keys were far from finished and Watkins slipped a pass to James Leadbeater who found Dai Langdon in support and he crossed for a try and David converted.

In a frantic final few minutes, Keys attacked and Pewtner touched down only to be recalled and a penalty awarded to Keys after referee Chris Williams consulted with his assistant.

David Blyth was yellow carded, then Leadbeater followed as Keys went for the win but time ran out with Swansea very much under the cosh.

Swansea coach Richard Webster admitted: “Hanno was the difference between the sides just as he was against Ebbw Vale last week.

“The win keeps the pressure on Neath and there are no easy games in this league.”

Keys team manager Mark Prangell said: “The game could have gone either way. Once again yellow cards have cost us. It was a tight game and the difference was Dirksen.

“The commitment and effort shown by the boys was was just as good as they have shown all season.

“Penalties and yellow cards are costing us and perhaps we need to consult someone to explain how we are going wrong at the breakdowns,” he added.

Cross Keys: G David, R Lee, C Pocock (D Langdon 39), M Pewtner, N Trowbridge, R James, O Jones (Captain)(J Leadbeater 65), R Cornock (J Price 65), L Burns (T Lampard 46-55), N Hall (C Gould 65), M Curtis, B Watkins (J Faletau 80), R Emms (T Lampard 55), R Nash, J Groves.

Scorers: tries - J Groves, D Langdon; conversions - G Davis (2); penalties - G David (2) Swansea: N Thomas, H Dirksen, A Thomas (R Williams 68), D Watts, L Bevan (N Jones 71), J Dixon, R Wells (A Lewis 68), L May, A Joy (O Phillips 61), R Jones (T Evans 68), C McInerney (P Arnold 66), S Kiley (Captain), L Jones, B Lewis (D Blyth 48), M Popham Scorers: tries - H Dirksen (3); conversions - J Dixon (2); penalties - J Dixon (2) Referee: Chris Williams Argus star man: Rob Nash