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 | | You are in: Rugby Union: Celtic |
 | | Saturday, 4 May, 2002, 18:17 GMT 19:17 UK Swansea dent Cardiff claims  Sililo Martens breaks clear of the Cardiff defence Swansea 24-20 Cardiff Cardiff's Welsh-Scottish League title hopes took a big dent as Swansea continued their improved form with a hard-fought victory at St Helen's. The capital side's claims for the crown are now out of their own hands, while the All Whites are still in the running for an unlikely Heineken Cup place. Arwel Thomas fired Swansea in front with a third-minute penalty and made it 6-0 soon after following a mistake by John Tait.
Nicky Robinson, included in place of Iestyn Harris, had two opportunites to get the visitors on the board, but sent his attempts wide. The Blue & Blacks, who needed a victory to keep their title hopes alive, tried to inject some pace into the game and Rhys Williams led one break-out which led to another penalty. Robinson hit the post this time, and Swansea escaped again, before Ryan Powell knocked on with Cardiff looking to make use of an overlap. They lost Spencer John with a suspected dislocated kneecap soon after before Robinson kicked his first penalty at the fourth attempt. But the home side got the first try of the match in the 37th minute when a charge from Tyrone Maullin saw Geraint Lewis put Kevin Morgan in the corner. Arwel Thomas made it 13-3 with a touchline conversion.
Nicky Robinson kept Cardiff in the hunt with another penalty, but Dan Baugh hobbled off with a knee injury to be replaced by Robin Sowden-Taylor. After the break, Morgan thought he had scored his second try but referee Nigel Whitehouse ruled Matthew Robinson had put a foot in touch in releasing the scoring pass. It was the stroke of luck Cardiff needed as they bounced back with a score of their own. An All Whites move broke down in the Cardiff half and Matt Allen sent Rhys Williams speeding between the posts for Nicky Robinson to convert. But a huge bloomer by Craig Morgan gave Swansea the lead again, as the Welsh international dropped the ball and then missed his intended kick to give Geraint Lewis the simple task of scoring the try.
Arwel Thomas' conversion looked to have gone over, but the touchjudges failed to raise their flags. Cardiff wasted a good chance to hit back when Powell was tackled into touch, before Arwel Thomas made it 21-13 with a short-range penalty. Then Harris, on as a replacement for Nicky Robinson, brought Cardiff back into the game with a magical try. As Hywel Jenkins looked certain to score for Swansea, Rhys Williams started a counter-attack which ended 80 metres later with Harris gliding over. The former rugby league star added the conversion. But two minutes from the end, the Cardiff scrum was penalised and Arwel Thomas added his fourth penalty to wrap up victory. Swansea: K Morgan: S Payne, M Taylor, S Gibbs (capt), M Robinson; A Thomas, S Martens; B Evans, G Jenkins, D Morris, T Maullin, L Jones, G Lewis, D Thomas, H Jenkins. Cardiff: R Williams; C Morgan, J Robinson, M Allen, A Sullivan; N Robinson, R Powell; S John, A Lewis, G Powell, C Quinnell, J Tait (capt), R Appleyard, M Williams, D Baugh. Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales). | |
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