Mark Taylor breezes over for his first try

The game had started badly after being held up for 15 minutes by a serious injury to home prop Nalu Ta'u.

The big Tongan was taken off on a spinal board and latest reports say two vertebrae in his neck have separated.

Ta'u will need an operation to repair the damage and will not play again this season.

Pontypridd favourite

Two Lee Jarvis penalties had edged Pontypridd into an unlikely 6-5 lead before Swansea began to turn the screw.

Mark Taylor grabbed another interception try to add to his one for Wales against Scotland last week, Tyrone Maullin crashed over from close to the line after a jinking run from Cerith Rees and the Swansea fly-half converted both.

Jarvis slotted another penalty just before the end of the lengthy first-half injury time to keep Ponty in touch at 9-19.

Gibbs scored a try near the end

Jarvis again gave the home side hope just after the restart with his fourth penalty, but minutes later Taylor pounced for his second try after former Pontypridd favourite Geraint Lewis drew full-back Gareth Wyatt to release his centre.

Rhodri Jones rounded off a similar move ten minutes later after more Swansea pressure before wing Richard Rees capitalised on fantastic sleight of hands from Kevin Morgan and replacement fly-half Gavin Henson.

Cerith Rees converted two of those tries before Scott Gibbs crashed over at the death to compound Pontypridd's misery.

Scorers - Pontypridd: Pens: Jarvis 4

Swansea: Tries: Morgan, Taylor 2, Maullin, R Jones, R Rees, Gibbs. Con: C Rees 4, Henson.

Teams:

Pontypridd: G Wyatt; R Johnson, S Parker, J Bryant, J Colderley; L Jarvis, P John (capt); N Ta'u, J Evans, S Cronk, W James, R Sidoli, M Lloyd, R Parks, D McIntosh.
Replacements: R Neville, C Sweeney, B Davey, P Graham, G Thomas, M Owen, R Field.

Swansea: K Morgan; M Robinson, M Taylor, S Gibbs (capt), S Payne; C Rees, R Jones; D Morris, G Jenkins, C Anthony, T Maullin, A Moore, P Moriarty, G Lewis, C Charvis.
Replacements: J Griffiths, B Evans, L Jones, S Martens, S Winn, G Henson.