WELSH PREMIERSHIP Swansea (32) 52 Tries: S Payne (2), R Sweeney (3), G Swales. Cons: R Sweeney (5). Pens: A Thomas, Sweeney (3). Llanelli (26) 40 Tries: M Phillips, G Bowen, S Finau, T Selley, L Gross, A Yelland. Cons: Bowen (5).

Thirty-four points for young replacement fly-half Rob Sweeney saw Swansea to a shock victory over their oldest rivals at St Helen's.

Sweeney, on as an early replacement for the injured Arwel Thomas, contributed a try hat-trick and a 100% kicking return in his remarkable haul, to close the 127-year history between these sides at the highest level.

Llanelli had been leading by 18 points before Sweeney's introduction and seemingly cruising to their third comfortable victory of the season over the Whites.

But Swansea's young, fiery pack and talented back line finally found the form they have been searching for all year to put the Scarlets to the sword.

Swansea opened the scoring in just the second minute, Shaun Payne taking advantage of good work from Paul Mackey for a simple run-in.

It's a sad day, the last game between the old rivals at St Helen's Swansea captain Scott Gibbs

Straight from the restart, Wales Under-21 scrum-half Mike Phillips exploited Swansea's non-existent ruck defence to get the Scarlets off the mark, Gareth Bowen converting for the lead.

Phillips turned creator for the next score, exploding off a line-out to free Bowen for a 30m run-in under the posts.

Arwel Thomas replied with a penalty, but more pressure and simple passing saw Salesi Finau in at the corner for the visitors' third try.

Weak tackling from Scott Gibbs allowed Tal Selley to breeze in for the next score, before Sweeney made his first mark on the game with a try and conversion for the Whites.

The home side's unexpected fightback continued, slick ball along the back line reaching Gareth Swales, giving the talented full-back the chance to breach the defence for Swansea's third five-pointer.

Phillips had a hand in Llanelli's two opening tries

The young Swansea pack were getting their tails up, and on the stroke of half time a strong scrummage stole Scarlet ball.

From the re-set scrum Rhodri Jones was given the perfect platform to free Payne for his second try, Sweeney converting for a 32-26 half-time lead to the Whites.

Sweeney's dramatic impact on the game continued at the start of the second period as he put a beautiful grubber kick through the flat Llanelli defence and followed up for his second try.

Moments later, Mackey and Gibbs blasted through the Scarlet tacklers, before Gibbs fed inside to the supporting Sweeney who secured his hat trick, his fifth try in two appearances for the Whites.

The burst stunned the Scarlets and it was not until the 71st minute that they got their next score, Luke Gross bursting through a tiring defence.

Adam Yelland's score with the last move of the match made it six tries apiece, but there was no denying the Whites in front of their home crowd.

Swansea captain Scott Gibbs had mixed feelings at the end of the game.

"It's a sad day, the last game between the old rivals at St Helen's," he said.

"It'll be change for everyone next season, but we're looking forward to it."

Swansea: Gareth Swales; Shaun Payne, Mark Taylor, Scott Gibbs (capt), Paul Mackey; Arwel Thomas, Sam Cordingley; Tim Evans, Christian Balshen, Carwyn Edwards, Andrew Farley, James Griffiths, Jonathan Thomas, John Tenconi, Gavin Evans.
Replacements: Rob Sweeney, Rhodri Jones, Matthew Brayley, Chris Wells, Ian Evans, Bradley, Steve Pope.

Llanelli: Neil Boobyer; Wayne Proctor, Tal Selley, Leigh Davies (capt), Salesi Finau; Gareth Bowen, Mike Phillips; Phil John, Aled Gravelle, Martyn Madden, Luke Gross, Paul Clapham, Jamie Cudmore, Ian Boobyer, Gareth Williams.
Replacements: John Davies, Adam Yelland, Bryn Griffiths, David Hodges, Guy Easterby, Jonny Lewis, Owain Ashman.

Ref: C Thomas (Bryncoch)