Match Report: Aberavon 22 – 28 Swansea
The Wizards made an ideal start in their final pool match of the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup. After winning a penalty and kicking to the corner, Aberavon secured their lineout and drove Swansea backwards. Hooker Luke Davies peeled away from the maul to score in the 4th minute, and outside half Keillen Cullen converted for a 7–0 lead. The home side then suffered a setback on 17 minutes when prop Jordan Walters was shown a yellow card near the Swansea line, reducing Aberavon to 14 men.
Despite being a player down, the Wizards maintained control, and after Swansea’s first real entry into the home 22, Aberavon extended their lead on 22 minutes with a Cullen penalty, making it 10–0. Shortly after, wing Noah Mason was forced off injured, replaced by Lewis Ingram. The Whites then struck back in the 25th minute – after a lineout deep in Aberavon territory, Swansea drove from the maul and number eight Jacob Hopkins crashed over, with outside half Josh Phillips converting to narrow the gap to 10–7. Walters returned on 28 minutes, but Swansea seized momentum, breaking from halfway three minutes later for hooker Jamie Cox to finish, again converted by Phillips, giving the visitors a 10–14 advantage.
Aberavon suffered a second injury blow when debutant Mason Archer departed on 33 minutes, resulting in scrum half Elis Horgan entering the match and captain Scott Whitlock shifting to the wing. The half ended after six minutes of stoppage time with Swansea still ahead.
The Wizards emerged strongly after the break, winning two scrum penalties before reclaiming the lead on 48 minutes. From a lineout in the Swansea 22, Aberavon moved the ball wide for full‑back Scott Delnevo to score, with Cullen converting for 17–14. The Whites responded once again, breaking from inside their own half in the 54th minute for centre Jack Hoskins to touch down, Phillips adding the extras to put Swansea 17–21 in front.
Both teams made wholesale forward changes around the hour mark – Swansea on 59 minutes and Aberavon on 62 – as the contest tightened. The Wizards twice attacked inside the Swansea 22 around the 70‑minute mark but were turned over on both occasions, allowing the visitors to relieve pressure.
Aberavon finally reclaimed the lead in the 77th minute. After kicking another penalty to the corner, the Wizards drove from the lineout, and replacement prop Tyler Murvai powered over in the right corner. The difficult touchline conversion was missed, leaving Aberavon narrowly ahead at 22–21.
However, in the second minute of added time, Swansea were awarded a five‑metre scrum. Number eight Hopkins picked up from the base and forced his way over for his second try of the match, securing the bonus point and swinging the result back in Swansea’s favour. Phillips’ conversion made it 22–28, and there was no time for a restart, the Whites sealing the win at the death.
Swansea left the Talbot Athletic Ground with a bonus‑point victory, while Aberavon claimed a losing bonus point from a match they led on three separate occasions but were ultimately edged at the final moment.
Date:
Saturday February 14th, 2026
Score:
Aberavon 22 – 28 Swansea
Aberavon Team:
Scott Delnevo (rep Sam Jardine 72 min); Noah Mason (rep Lewis Ingram 23 min), Sam Matthews, Bradley Roderick, Mason Archer (rep Elis Horgan 33 min); Keillen Cullen, Scott Whitlock (capt); Jordan Walters (rep Tyler Murvai 62 min), Luke Davies (rep Jamie Goldsworthy 62 min), Conrad Delfosse (rep Geraint James 62 min), Shay Smallman, Lewis Marsh, Charlie Herdman, Cameron Loveys, Owen Popple (rep Ashton Evans 62 min).
Replacement Not Used:
Brynley Thomas.
Notes:
Club debut for Mason Archer & Owen Popple
Aberavon Scorers:
T – Luke Davies, Scott Delnevo, Tyler Murvai
C – Keillen Cullen (2)
P – Keillen Cullen
Swansea Scorers:
T – Jacob Hopkins (2), Jamie Cox, Jack Hoskins
C – Josh Phillips (4)
Referee:
Patrick Bateman
Man Of The Match:
1 – Luke Davies
2 – Shay Smallman
3 – Charlie Herdman
Time Line:
04 min: Aberavon – T – Luke Davies & C – Keillen Cullen (7 – 0)
17 min: Aberavon – Yellow Card – Jordan Walters
22 min: Aberavon – PG – Keillen Cullen (10 – 0)
25 min: Swansea – T – Jacob Hopkins & C – Josh Phillips (10 – 7)
28 min: Aberavon – End Yellow Card – Jordan Walters
31 min: Swansea – T – Jamie Cox & C – Josh Phillips (10 – 14)
40+6 min: Half Time
48 min: Aberavon – T – Scott Delnevo & C – Keillen Cullen (17 – 14)
54 min: Swansea – T – Jack Hoskins & C – Josh Phillips (17 – 21)
77 min: Aberavon – T – Tyler Murvai (22 – 21)
80+2 min: Swansea – T – Jacob Hopkins & C – Josh Phillips (22 – 28)
80+3 min: Full Time
