Yet Neath kept plugging away snatched a try of their own and at least forced their hosts to battle for

Yet Neath kept plugging away, snatched a try of their own and at least forced their hosts to battle for the bonus points in the final quarter.In the end the Swansea coach, Mike Ruddock, had to substitute two key men, Arwel Thomas and Scott Gibbs, and introduce the wily Aled Williams to spread the ball wider to achieve the desired result It was a gamble that paid handsome dividends. Three more tries flowed in the closing 12 minutes and everyone went home happy.Swansea: Tries Booth 3, Davies 2, Taylor, Anthony; Conversions Thomas 3, Williams; Penalties Thomas 2. Neath: Try P Williams; Conversion P Williams; Penalty P Williams.Swansea: M Back; A Harris, S Gibbs (D Weatherley, 75), M Taylor, S Davies; A Thomas (A Williams, 65), A Booth; C Loader, G Jenkins (capt), C Anthony, S Moore, P Arnold, A Reynolds, P Moriarty, C Charvis (D Niblo, 78).Neath: A Flowers; J Young, G Davies (D Hawkins, 40), J Funnell, D Case (C Bridges, 78); P Williams, P Horgan; L Gerrard, B Williams (capt), D Morris, S Martin, A Kembery (M Glover, 67), G Newman, R Jones (S Gardiner, 75), I Boobyer.Referee: H Lewis (Pontypridd).. South Africa, spurred by a first-half try from James Dalton, clinched the two-match series against France on Saturday. The Springboks, who have played a record four successive Tests without team changes, won the first clash 22-12 last weekend. Henry Honiball converted Dalton's try and put over two penalties to complete the scoring for the Springboks, who have now won four of their five tests on tour. They beat also Argentina 2-0 and complete their schedule against Wales in Cardiff next week.The only scorer for France was Richard Dourthe who kicked four penalties, three in the second half, as the home side edged tantalisingly closer to the world champions.After Dourthe and Honiball had exchanged penalties in the opening 10 minutes, South Africa scored through Dalton after 26 minutes.

A concerted attack swung from the right across the field, where Joost van der Westhuizen fed the ball out quickly, leaving the defence outnumbered.Mark Andrews chose to bypass the centres and flung a long high pass out to his winger Jacques Olivier, who with two defenders both going for him fed the ball inside to the unmarked Dalton who ran in for the try.The Springboks were, for most of the game, in control, forcing France into numerous mistakes, both in their handling and kicking during open play."We played two Tests against France without conceding a try, that's good for the team. It shows its character." Andre Markgraaf, the South African coach, said.Abdelatif Benazzi, the French captain, said: "Again we dropped several balls and this was fatal."France: Penalties Dourthe 4. South Africa: Try Dalton; Conversion Honiball; Penalties Honiball 2.FRANCE: J-L Sadourny; L Leflamand, R Dourthe, S Glas, D Venditti; C Lamaison, G Accoceberry; C Califano, M Dal Maso, F Tournaire (J-J Crenca, 73), O Merle, F Pelous, P Benetton (M Lievremont, 66), R Castel, A Benazzi (capt).SOUTH AFRICA: A Joubert; J Small, J Mulder, H Le Roux, J Olivier; H Honiball, J Van der Westhuizen; D Theron, J Dalton, A Garvey, K Wiese, M Andrews, R Kruger, A Venter, G Teichmann (capt).Referee: D G Bevan (Wales).. The South African outside-half Joel Stransky was reported to be among the 11,839 crowd for a pulsating match at Welford Road yesterday. If so, then he would have been convinced after this all-round rugged display that Leicester are worth joining. The Tigers expect to announce later this week that they have signed the 29-year-old Stransky, who plays for Western Province, on a two-year deal. Yesterday the prize was retaining membership of the leading group in the Courage League First Division, and the sparks as the heavy metal packs clashed threatened to ignite a game which was dry with ambition.

As the Leicester forwards rumbled upfield at times they resembled an avalanche of boulders. But they in turn were met with a sometimes immovable mountain of Saints forwards, who won a fair enough share of ball. In the threequarters, the rapiers of Will Greenwood and Stuart Potter crossed with the sabres of Matt Allen, a major talent at centre, and Jonathan Bell, while both sets of half-backs - Paul Grayson was at full-back for Northampton with the outstanding Gregor Townsend replacing him at outside- half - strutted their stuff for the crowd.Townsend repeatedly showed his speed and quickness of thought. Yet all Saints had to show for their first-half effort was a Townsend drop goal and a Grayson penalty. Leicester's overall edge early on saw them score the opening try when Neil Back was shunted over from a tap penalty, a try converted by Rob Liley.

The outside-half also landed a penalty before taking a knock and handing over the duties to his brother, John.John Liley kicked goals either side of half-time, and he also starred with his kicking from hand, thumping the ball deep into opposition territory. There was diverting moment when the Tigers scrum-half Austin Healey took on the Saints hooker Allen Clarke. They rolled around while the other 28 players concentrated on the ball. Eventually, having rejoined the main battle, the pair were called together by the referee and made to shake hands.Ultimately, the smile was on the face of the Tigers, with Stuart Potter rounding off a last spell of pressure to score their second try.Leicester: Tries Back, Potter; Conversions R Liley, J Liley; Penalties R Liley, J Liley 2. Northampton: Penalties Grayson 2; Drop goal Townsend.Leicester: J Liley; S Hackney, W Greenwood, S Potter, L Lloyd; R Liley, A Healey; G Rowntree, R Cockerill, D Garforth, M Johnson, R Field, J Wells, N Back, D Richards (capt; E Miller, 72).Northampton: P Grayson; N Beal, J Bell, M Allen (I Hunter, 75), H Thorneycroft; G Townsend, M Dawson; M Volland, A Clarke, M Hynes, J Phillips, J Chandler, J Cassell, B Pountney, T Rodber (capt).Referee: A Spreadbury (Bristol).The South African referee Tappe Henning, who takes charge of Saturday's Test between England and Argentina, came in for criticism yesterday following the 17-17 draw between Saracens and Sale. Sale's New Zealander John Mitchell said: "The referee did not administer the new tackle law He contributed to a mess of a game.''. At last, England have stemmed their embarrassing losing habit and won a match against first-class opposition.