It was another close game at Parc y Scarlets as the young Llanelli team continued their quest for a first victory in the Premiership Cup west group with a strong second half.
Swansea secured an early penalty that would have given them a good attacking position, but were unable to find touch, with Iwan Evans kicking play back into the Swansea half.
However, the Llanelli defence was soon tested with J. Rhys Williams breaking through in midfield and gaining the hard yards before being brought down. The visitors recycled the ball well but it was lost forward in contact.
Swansea continued with their strong start, but despite conceding a penalty at the scrum, allowing the visitors back into the Llanelli twenty-two, Hyndman stole the line-out to thwart the threat.
It was the Whites that opened the scoring with outside half, James Davies combining with Harri Houston who crossed in the corner. Davies added the extras.
Llanelli 0-7 Swansea
A 50-22 kick from Davies offered the visitors a further attacking position just a few minutes later. With the line-out secured, prop, Tom Sloane powered over in the corner. J. Rhys Williams was on target with a superb conversion attempt.
Llanelli 0-14 Swansea
A lovely penalty kick from Llew Smith gave Llanelli the first real scoring opportunity. The line-out was secured and a huge effort from the forwards saw the Llanelli rolling maul rumble towards the try line. It was brought down illegally and Smith kicked for the corner and again the forwards set up the maul, but the Whites secured a turnover.
A Llanelli error saw wing, Gareth Rees kick out of his own twenty-two, crossing for a superb individual try. Williams again added the extras.
Llanelli 0-21 Swansea
Another scrum penalty gave the visitors a line-out inside the Llanelli twenty-two, but play was stopped with replacement, R. Rhys Williams sin binned for an off-the-ball incident.
With the game nearing the last few minutes of the first half, frustrations spilled and Llanelli’s Rhys Cherry and Swansea’s Tom Sloane were both shown yellow for fighting.
A further yellow card was shown to Harri Houston for a professional foul. Llanelli secured the line-out inside the visitors’ twenty-two and spread the ball to the backs. Lovely handling saw the ball fed to Harrison Button who crossed in the corner for Llanelli’s first try. A beautiful kick from Smith added the extras.
Llanelli 7-21 Swansea
HALF TIME
It looked likely that Button would score either side of the interval as he side-stepped his way through the Swansea defence, but a try-saving tackle from J.Rhys Williams brought him down short of the line.
Llien Morgan was on hand for the Whites to thwart a further scoring opportunity for Llanelli with a try saving tackling on Tristan James.
Llanelli’s attack continued to test the White’s defence with the visitors pinged for a high tackle. Smith opted to kick for the corner rather than the three points, but despite another powerful maul, Rhys Cherry was held up over the line.
Llanelli then won a penalty at the scrum. Scrum half Beynon-Thomas opted to take it quickly, with Smith putting in a neat chip to the corner but Button was unable to gather the ball.
As the penalties against Swansea mounted up in the red zone, Chris Long looked to have powered over from cross range, but was held up.
Llanelli were finally rewarded for their attacking pressure, with Harrison Button going over the whitewash in the corner to score his brace. Smith missed the tricky conversion attempt.
Llanelli 12-21 Swansea
Llanelli took full advantage of errors creeping into the visitors’ game, and with Smith kicking deep into the Swansea twenty-two, it forced Evans to run it into touch. The rolling maul off the line out continued to be a weapon for Llanelli with Nathan Hart again coming close, but he was pinged for holding on.
Llanelli finally got their third try following a burst of pace from replacement prop, Tom Zoogah. The ball was recycled before finding Ryan Davies who crossed in the corner. Another superb kick from Smith added the conversion to bring Llanelli back to within two points.
Llanelli 19-21 Swansea
After a dominant half an hour from Llanelli, the Whites got their first points of the half after Llanelli were pinged for offside. J.Rhys Williams slotted over the penalty to extend the visitors’ lead.
Llanelli 19-24 Swansea
A tense ending ensued. Swansea were pinged at the scrum, offering Llanelli an opportunity to kick for the corner, but Smiths’ attempt was too long.
The visitors looked to end the game on a high as Llanelli’s hopes of victory dwindled. After winning a penalty to secure the win. J. Rhys Williams stepped up and duly slotted over the kick.
Llanelli 19-27 Swansea
A last gasp effort from Llanelli saw the backs attack from deep, but they were pinged for offside. With a bonus point on offer, J. Rhys Williams kicked for the corner, but with the throw-in deemed not straight, the visitors were denied the opportunity for a late fourth try.
Llanelli (7) 19-27 (21) Swansea
T: Harrison Button (2), Ryan Davies
C: Llew Smith (2)
YC: Rhys Cherry
T: Harri Houston, Tom Sloane, Gareth Rees
C: James Davies, J.Rhys Williams
P: J. Rhys Williams (2)
YC: R.Rhys Williams, Tom Sloane, Harri Houston
Report by Helen Davies