In a fiercely contested match, it was Cardiff’s centre duo of Max Woodward and captain Ross Wardle that shone through, as the hosts outscored the Green and Whites three tries to one.
It was a taut and tense affair from the outset with both sides trying to establish their authority over proceedings, but it was the Red and Black’s that launched a string of attacks with loose kicking from the Swansea outside half Josh Hammet allowing Cardiff full back Elliot Jones to launch a number of threatening counter attacks.
The Swansea line, however, stood with back row Reuben Tucker and prop Nicky Thomas making monster hits to keep the opposition at bay. The visitors did begin to settle down and the back three of Jackson Szabo, Andrew Claypole and Glen Lewis looked dangerous with the ball in hand.
Just before the interval, however, Cardiff began to turn the screw and three penalties in quick succession in the Swansea 22 surely should have brought a card for the visitors but referee Kelvin Shorte failed to produce even a warning.
The Red and Blacks were desperate to make their abundance of territory and possession pay and were getting closer and closer. Back row James Thomas made hard yards before fly half Matt Purssell was held up short after a cute show and go, while Ben Mitchell had to produce a huge hit to stop Wardle in his tracks.
Another infringement from the Swansea forwards saw Cardiff kick to the corner with a cleverly rehearsed lineout, catching the visitors’ defence asleep, allowing flanker Rhys Luckwell to dive over and take a deserved 5-0 advantage into the break.
Swansea struck first after the interval with Hammett on target with a penalty but an injury to prop James Ben saw a lengthy delay as he was removed from the field.
After getting themselves back into the game, Richard Lancaster’s men failed to claim the restart and immediately handed the impetus back to Cardiff. The Green and Whites once again impinged at the breakdown, with Purssell making no mistake from the tee.
It then went from bad to worse for the Green and Whites when scrum half George Hardy should have mopped up Howell’s hack through, but the bounce evaded him and Woodward pounced for his side’s second of the afternoon. Purssell added the extras to take a 15-3 lead.
Cardiff were now well and truly in the ascendancy but some great link-up play from Jack Perkins and James McWilliams-Grey saw Swansea them make a rare foray into the opposition 22. The ball was recycled quickly with Hammett throwing a miss pass to Szabo, who timed his run perfectly to slice through and go over unopposed for a converted try.
With the game firmly on a knife edge, both sides knew the next score would prove crucial – Woodward burst through midfield scything passed defenders to set up Wardle, who still had work to do to cross out wide to put the game to bed.
Swansea never gave up and should have crossed again after a lovely break from Hammett saw his floated pass just elude Claypole and so the chance went begging. The Green and Whites continued to threaten but a strong display from the Cardiff defence muted any attack.
Star Man – Max Woodward
Cardiff: E Jones, J Waters, R Wardle, M Woodward, R Howell, M Purssell, B Phillips, J Ben, J Sould, B Thayer, J Sawyer, N Huntley, G Lee, R Luckwell, J Thomas. Reps- A Rees, R May, B Egan, A Devereaux, J Neville, M Lesis, J Flower, M O’Connor.
Tries: R Luckwell 31, M Woodward 53, R Wardle 64. Cons: M Purssell 54, 65. Pens: M Purssell 47.
Swansea:J Szabo, G Lewis, B Mitchell, J Bartlett, A Claypole, J Hammett, G Hardy, J Kaijaks, M Beddows, N Thomas, A Scanlon, J Walker, J McWilliams-Grey, J Perkins, R Tucker. Reps- S McDonnell-Roberts, S Jones, G George, Tim Connolly J Wolfe, J Guy, I Griffiths, E Jones.
Tries: J Szabo 57. Cons: J Hammett 57. Pens: Hammett 44.
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