Gavin Henson produced a super-sub performance to inspire Swansea to a hard-won Welsh Premiership win over west Wales rivals Neath at St Helen's on Friday night.

Arwel Thomas had started at fly-half for Swansea but his sin-binning in the 52nd minute saw Henson's introduction.

At that point Neath had looked the more likely to take all three points, but Henson added a try, conversion, and two drop goals to take the All Whites clear.

Scoring details:

Swansea (10) 23: Tries: Evans, Henson. Cons: A. Thomas, Henson. Pen: A. Thomas. Drop Goals: Henson 2. Neath (0) 14: Try: S. Williams. Pens: S. Connor 3. Att: 4,500

But it was Swansea's pack, with James Bater to the fore, and the brilliant Kevin Morgan at full-back who had kept Neath at bay with some fine defence.

Neath had started nervously, with Adrian Durston and Lee Jarvis both having attempted clearance kicks charged down.

Durston's confidence wasn't helped when Shane Williams passed to his full-back on the Neath try line, despite the Swansea pack breathing down Durston's neck.

With little option but to hang on to the ball, Durston conceded the penalty and Swansea opted to charge for the line to put Ben Evans over.

You can't teach Gavin Henson anything, he's got it all Swansea skipper Darren Morris

Arwel Thomas converted but that was the fly-half's only success until close to half-time, as he and opposite number Lee Jarvis muffed kick after kick at both posts and sidelines.

Wales full-back Morgan, back after a lengthy injury, showed just what Swansea had been missing with some incisive running and sound defence.

The defence was certainly needed as the half progressed, as Neath began to threaten increasingly.

Fierce Swansea tackling saw first Barry Williams limp off with a rib injury, replaced by Steve Williams, then Jarvis retire after a blow to the head.

In truth the injury to Jarvis was a blessing as nothing he tried was going right, and Shaun Connor's entrance at No 10 settled the visitors.

Kevin Morgan made a fine return from injury

Only an excellent joint-tackle from Colin Charvis and Mark Taylor prevented Steve Tandy from grounding the ball as Neath probed and battered away.

However, the last word of the half was Swansea's, as Neath backrow Rowland Phillips was sin-binned by referee Huw Lewis - excellent throughout - for killing the ball.

Thomas converted a penalty kick at last to give the All Whites a 10-0 lead at half-time.

Neath hit back after the restart when Williams produced a devastating side-step to leave Johnny Vaughton grasping thin air and the way clear to the try line.

Connor missed the difficult conversion but had no troubles with a penalty 10 minutes later, after Thomas was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on to deny Neath an overlap.

Thomas was lucky to escape with just a yellow, but his absence allowed Henson to take the field at fly-half.

Shane Williams could have won it for Neath

Connor had enough time to put Neath into the lead for the first time with his second penalty, before Henson launched his one-man show.

First he added a strong hand-off to a side-step to score a try, added the conversion, then two minutes later struck a drop-goal to leave Neath reeling, suddenly trailing 20-11.

But then Connor struck his third penalty to move the visitors within a converted try of victory.

When Williams pinned his ears back and headed for the line it looked as though Neath could produce a dramatic win, only for Morgan to scream across and crash the Neath wing into touch.

Danger over, there was Henson again with another drop-goal to put the All Whites safe.

Swansea: Kevin Morgan; Shaun Payne, Mark Taylor, Scott Gibbs, Johnny Vaughton; Arwel Thomas, Sam Cordingley; Darren Morris (capt), Christian Balshen, Ben Evans, John Slade , Andrew Farley, Dean Thomas, Colin Charvis, James Bater.
Reps: Rhodri Jones, Gavin Henson, Matthew Robinson, Dan Dorsey, Rory Jenkins, John Thomas, Chris Wells.

Neath: Adrian Durston; Sean Marsden, James Storey Dave Tiueti, Shane Williams; Lee Jarvis, Patrick Horgan; Duncan Jones, Barry Williams, Adam Jones, Andy Newman, Gareth Llewellyn, Brett Sinkinson, Steve Tandy, Rowland Phillips.
Reps: Shaun Connor, Andrew Moore, Steve Jones, Steve Martin, Alfie Mocelutu, Paul James, Andrew Milward.

Ref: Huw F Lewis (Pontypridd).