Swansea 60 Newport 19

NEWPORT had no answer to hat-trick hero Tom Prydie and Swansea’s running rugby last night as they lost their opening Principality Welsh Premiership play-off, going down nine tries to three at St Helen’s.

But despite the defeat and wing Alan Awcock scoring a hat-trick, the Black and Ambers still have another chance to reach the play-off last four with a semi-final eliminator next week.

On a perfect evening for running rugby Swansea opened the scoring on five minutes when teenage wing Eli Walker touched down after prop Andrew Clatworthy had intercepted a loose pass.

And five minutes later another teenager, centre Hanno Dirksen had scored Swansea second try. From a five-metre scrum Swansea moved the ball left and Dirksen shrugged off two tackles to go over.

From 12-0 Swansea’s lead became 19-0 with a third try four minutes later, also coming from first phase. Good line-out ball was moved left and David Watts punched a hole in midfield before sending Dirksen over again. Newport’s cause was not helped when skipper Andrew Coombs limped off in the 22nd minute.

But despite that the Black and Ambers were on the scoreboard when Awcock crashed over for a converted try after making the most of his side’s first meaningful attack.

It looked as if Newport were getting back into the game but they were hit by a long-range try from Swansea’s third teenager on show - Prydie, who won his first Wales cap against Italy. He sprinted in from 70 metres out after the home side turned over possession.

A fifth Swansea try and a penalty gave Swansea a commanding 36-7 interval lead.

Newport did hit back with a second Awcock try three minutes after the restart but were then hit by three Swansea tries in the space of eight minutes.

Awcock did complete his hat-trick but it was all too little too late.

Swansea: N Thomas; E Walker, H Dirksen, D Watts, T Prydie; J Dixon, R Wells (T Isaac 52); L May (R Jones 52), A Joy (S Baldwin 47), A Clatworthy, S Kiley (capt), R Kelly, L Jones (D Blyth 28, D Karauna 64), M Popham (J Goode 52), B Lewis.

Scorers – tries: E Walker, H Dirksen (2), T Prydie (3), N Thomas (2), J Dixon; pen: J Dixon; cons: J Dixon (6).

Newport: G Wyatt; M Poole, A Hughes (S Williams 48), P. Leach, A Alcock; L Robling (C Wannell h-t), A Walker (A Quick 48); D Pattison (D Way h-t), A Brown (M Leaman 53), G Robinson, D Rosser, M Workman (P Williams 56), S Waldron, C Hill, A Coombs (capt, D McShane 22).

Scorers – tries: A Awcock (3); cons: L Roblin, C Wannell.

Referee: James Jones (WRU).