The 6’7’’ lock crashed over with seven minutes remaining to ensure maximum points for the visitors to deny the hosts what would have been a remarkable comeback victory. When Aberavon were awarded a penalty try nine minutes into the second half, they looked to be cruising at 31-8 up and the bonus point already secure.
But Swansea has other ideas, and when former Aberavon outside half Rhys Jones split the posts to put the Whites 32-31 ahead, it looked like the visitors might have blown it – until Smallman intervened to ensure a 38-32 win for his side.
“It was a tight one at the end, it was touch and go. First half we did really well and then kind of just came out a bit flat second half,” said Smallman.
“We lost our edge in some parts of the game, made some silly mistakes in the wrong areas and let them back into the game. But at the end I thought we showed great composure to come back and take the win from a tough place.”
Having twice fallen behind on the scoreboard to an early Jones penalty and then an Owen Thomas try, Aberavon soon found their stride and led 24-8 at the turnaround. Centres Bradley Roderick and Frankie Jones both scored as did No8 Rhys Thomas.
Former Swansea outside half James Davies converted all three and added a penalty goal. A penalty try strengthened their grip but back came Swansea – who soon replied through captain Callum Bowden’s converted try.
Then on 55 minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty try of their own when, with pressure on the Aberavon line, flanker Joe Tomalin-Reeves was adjudged to have deliberately collapsed a driving maul.
Five minutes later Swansea seized on their numerical advantage with hooker Thomas going over for his second try of the match.
Jones converted to pull them back to within two points and then with less than 10 minutes remaining he looked to have put one over his former side when his penalty nudged the home side back in front. But their joy would be short-lived.
Swansea were penalised for their own indiscipline when replacement Lloyd Evans, also ex Aberavon, was sent to the sin-bin. Aberavon drove forward in relentless pursuit of that fifth try and it arrived when replacement Cameron Lewis burst away and, despite being halted close to the posts, Smallman was there to barge over for a try which Davies improved.
It returned Aberavon to winning ways in the Indigo Prem after back-to-back home defeats to Pontypool and Newport. They now prepare for a trip to RGC this weekend.
Scorers: Swansea: Tries: O Thomas 2, C Bowden, Penalty try; Cons: R Jones 2; Pens: R Jones 2.
Aberavon: Tries: B Roderick, R Thomas, F Jones, S Smallman, Pen try; Cons: J Davies 4; Pen: J Davies
