Swansea 43 Pontypool 11

IT was an evening to forget for Pooler at St Helen’s as they crashed to a six tries to one Welsh Premiership defeat to Swansea.

After a minute’s silence to mark the death of Swansea legend Mervyn Davies it was almost one-way traffic as the home side led 26-11 at the interval.

Swansea had sealed the bonus point just before half-time with tries for full-back Nicky Thomas, fly-half James Dixon, prop Andrew Clatworthy and scrum-half Rhodri Wells.

There were just too many mistakes from the Gwent outfit who were kept in the hunt with two Tom Hancock penalties and a try for wing Gareth Williams.

But any hopes of a Pontypool revival after the break were dashed after just two minutes when they lost a line-out on their own 22 resulting in Thomas going over for his second try.

And a penalty from Dixon on 55 minutes put Swansea all but out of sight at 36-11.

To Pontypool’s credit they did not give up despite the 25-point deficit, but they had no answer to an improved defensive performance from their 47-7 defeat to Cross Keys at Pandy Park last week.

And Swansea had the final say when replacement wing Nico Setaro scored Swansea’s sixth try in injury time.

Swansea scorers: Tries – N Thomas (2), J Dixon, A Clatworthy, R Wells, N Setaro; Cons – J Dixon (5); Pen: J Dixon.

Pontypool scorers: Tries – G Williams; Pens - T Hancock (2)