Match Report: Swansea 37 – 22 Aberavon
On a chilly Friday night at Dunvant RFC’s Broadacre ground, Aberavon travelled to face Swansea in a Super Rygbi Cymru fixture.
Aberavon struck first after just five minutes when outside-half Keillen Cullen slotted a penalty to give the visitors a 3–0 lead. Swansea responded in the 19th minute through their own outside-half Josh Phillips, who levelled the scores at 3–3. However, it was the home side who seized control, dictating territory and possession during a sustained period of pressure.
The Wizards suffered a blow on 29 minutes when captain and centre Joe Gage left the field injured. Swansea soon made their pressure count – on 30 minutes, centre Ieuan Bissel crossed in the right corner for the first try of the match, putting the hosts ahead 8–3. Aberavon briefly threatened with a rare visit to the Swansea 22, but the half ended with the All Whites in control. Deep into stoppage time, a rolling maul from a lineout saw hooker Jamie Cox touch down, and Phillips added the extras for a 15–3 lead at the break.
Swansea started the second half strongly. Just two minutes in, Cox grabbed his second try, again converted by Phillips, stretching the advantage to 22–3. Aberavon hit back on 48 minutes when hooker Saul Hurley scored from a lineout drive, with Cullen converting to make it 22–10. However, Swansea’s attacking flair soon returned – full-back Harri Houston produced a stunning solo effort on 57 minutes for the bonus-point try, and Phillips himself added another score five minutes later after an Aberavon error, taking the tally to 32–10.
The Wizards showed resilience late on. After Swansea’s Iwan Shenton was sin-binned on 72 minutes, number eight Ashton Evans powered over for a converted try (32–17). But the All Whites responded swiftly, replacement Luca Ginianni finishing a sweeping move down the left for 37–17. Aberavon had the final word when replacement scrum-half Jayden Grey scored after a lengthy check by the officials, closing the gap to 37–22 before the whistle.
Date:
Friday December 19th, 2025
Score:
Swansea 37 – 22 Aberavon
Aberavon Team:
Felix Gilbert; Frankie Jones, Connor Moyse, Joe Gage (capt) (rep Scott Delnevo 29 min), Cori Lewis-Jenkins (rep Noah Mason 59 min); Keillen Cullen, Scott Whitlock (rep Jayden Grey 49 min); Jordan Walters (rep Freddie Chapman 61 min), Saul Hurley (rep George Merritt 52 min), Morgan James (rep Geraint James 52 min), Shay Smallman, Lewis Marsh (rep Ross Fox 52 min), Ben Gregory (rep James Clegg 52 min), Ashton Evans, Charlie Herdman.
Notes:
Connor Moyse appeared from the Ospreys; Jayden Grey appeared from Gowerton RFC
Aberavon Scorers:
T – Saul Hurley, Ashton Evans, Jayden Grey
C – Keillen Cullen (2)
P – Keillen Cullen
Swansea Scorers:
T – Jamie Cox (2), Ieuan Bissel, Harri Houston, Josh Phillips, Luca Ginianni
C – Josh Phillips (2)
P – Josh Phillips
Referee:
Morgan White
Time Line:
05 min: Aberavon – PG – Keillen Cullen (0 – 3)
19 min: Swansea – PG – Josh Phillips (3 – 3)
30 min: Swansea – T – Ieuan Bissel (8 – 3)
40+4 min: Swansea – T – Jamie Cox & C – Josh Phillips (15 – 3)
40+5 min: Half Time
42 min: Swansea – T – Jamie Cox & C – Josh Phillips (22 – 3)
48 min: Aberavon – T – Saul Hurley & C – Keillen Cullen (22 – 10)
57 min: Swansea – T – Harri Houston (27 – 10)
62 min: Swansea – T – Josh Phillips (32 – 10)
72 min: Swansea – Yellow Card – Iwan Shenton
73 min: Aberavon – T – Ashton Evans & C – Keillen Cullen (32 – 17)
75 min: Swansea – T – Luca Ginianni (37 – 17)
77 min: Aberavon – T – Jayden Grey (37 – 22)
80+1 min: Swansea – End Yellow Card – Iwan Shenton
80+3 min: Full Time
