CROSS Keys marched to the top of the Principality Premiership’s second tier with a confident victory over Swansea at St Helen’s, writes Tom Coleman.

A brace of tries from Lewis Barnett, as well as touchdowns from Scott Andrews and Matthew Powell, ensured Keys’ first visit to the All Whites since September 2013 was a happy one.

The result moves Keys ahead of Neath at the top of tier two and preserves an impressive 100% record since the mid-season split – a run that will breed plenty of confidence over the coming weeks, particularly ahead of next week’s crunch cup tie with Gwent rivals Pontypool.

It took just six minutes for the visitors to find a breakthrough, with a sweeping move out to the left eventually allowing Barnett to lose his man and dart over in the corner.

Josh Prosser made amends for an earlier penalty miss by adding the extras, before Iestyn Wilson missed the chance to get Swansea off the mark with a poor kick at the other end.

Swansea struggled to get on top of a dominant Keys pack, who displayed their power to great effect when Andrews bundled over for a second converted score following a smart lineout routine near the line.

Wilson missed another penalty as the hosts’ first-half difficulties continued, and their fortunes after the break were no better, with Powell pouncing on a Luke Griffiths fumble to extend Keys’ lead.

Swansea overcame a 24-point deficit to snatch victory at Cardiff in their last league outing, but sloppy passing and some fine defensive work meant there was to be no repeat of those heroics this time around.

To their credit, the hosts probed, but Keys responded in style just over 10 minutes from time, with Barnett finishing off a superb late breakaway to earn his second try of the game, putting any lingering doubts to bed.

Cross Keys: tries – L Barnett (2), S Andrews, M Powell; cons: J Prosser (3)