Swansea produced an impressive Boxing Day display to rattle up over 40 points against local rivals Neath.

The All Whites were brighter than the All Blacks and looked several yards quicker in a high-tempo match.

Their front five overpowred Neath's efforts, with man-of-the-match Darren Morris prominent.

The platform was provided for razor-sharp scrum-half Rhodri Jones to supply his backs with exceptionally quick service on which they thrived.

Neath staged a late comeback with tries from replacements Nathan Bonner-Evans, Kevin James and Steve Jones.

Shane Williams kicked a conversion and two penalties.

But Swansea are now three points clear at the top of the league and will take some stopping in the race for the title.

Neath coach Lyn Jones was disappointed with the performance of his team at St Helen's.

Their large travelling support would, he said, have expected more.

He acknowledged that Neath looked like "a team who are missing an outside-half," and they also missed the influence of Gareth Llewellyn.

Though he said that Patrick Horgan was doing a good job at number 10, he was worried at the lack of fly-half talent available - at a time when Swansea have three of the best in Wales on their books.

Jones acknowledged Swansea's fine display and said that they were "playing like a side who are going to win the league."

Ferocious

Swansea prop Darren Morris was glad to record a victory over his old club.

"We owed them for the beginning of the year - they did a very good job on us at the Gnoll," he said.

"It was a very ferocious game, a quick, open game."

Scorers - Swansea: Tries: Weatherley 2, R Rees, T Maullin, C Charvis. Cons: A Thomas 4. Pens: A Thomas 3. Drop Goal: A Thomas

Neath: Tries: K James, S Jones, N Bonner Evans. Con: S Williams. Pens: S. Williams 2

Teams - Swansea: K Morgan, R Rees, Winn, Gibbs, Payne, A Thomas, R Jones, Morris, G Jenkins, Anthony, Maulin, L. Jones, Charvis, D. Thomas, H Jenkins.
Replacements: Martens, C. Rees, Henson, Allen, Evans, Lewis, Moriarty.

Neath: S Williams, D Williams, Storey, T Davies, Tiueti, Horgan, Booth, D Jones, M Davies, Millward, Martin, Jackson, Francis, Sinkinson, Tuipulotu.
Replacements: K. James, S. Jones, John, Phillips, Bonner Evans, P. Jones, Howell.

Referee: Tony Rowlands (Treorchy)

Attendance: 8,000