Beached in the Celtic League, Swansea's Great Whites twitched into life by just enough to secure a must-have victory in one of the tougher Heineken Cup pools. Felipe Contepomi's try and 14 points from the boot were not enough to keep Bristol's heads above water, not that either look capable of torpedoeing Leinster.

In the circumstances win-at-all-costs rugby was no surprise. With Swansea pairing the old firm of Scott Gibbs and Mark Taylor in midfield, Bristol were unlikely to run through their opponents, but their lack of adventure was ultimately to cost them dear.

When Swansea cut loose in the second half, after a stalemate of nine points each in the first, it brought them match-clinching tries by Colin Charvis and Matthew Robinson.

The closest Bristol came to a try in the first half was twice when dropped passes by Swansea led to a kick and chase. Daryl Gibson, captaining Bristol for the first time, fly-hacked upfield only for his wing Brendon Daniel to boot the ball dead when a gentle shepherding over the goal-line was the intention. A similar chance came Agustin Pichot's way shortly before half-time, but the scrum-half lost a 40-metre foot race with Shaun Payne.

Gavin Henson's dropped goal in the opening 20 seconds had put Swansea ahead, while some were still digesting the programme notes, among which a supporter wrily suggested a name of Swansea Bay Blackjacks for one of the mooted provincial teams. The fan also complained that plans in Welsh rugby tend to change by the minute, and rather proved his own point by suggesting that Neath and Swansea was the combination he was anticipating in this neck of the woods, with no mention of Llanelli.

Bristol's fashion of late has been winning away from home, but without Garath Archer, who was resting a variety of bumps and bruises, their pack lacked bite. They did the basics solidly enough, though, and three penalties by Contepomi, to two from Henson, gave them a base to strike out for victory after the interval. A line-out steal by Alex Brown after Shane Drahm's kick found touch on the Swansea 22 led to the opening try in the 53rd minute. Bristol set up a maul slightly to the right of the posts, and Contepomi was at the heart of a cohesive drive over the line.

The Argentinian fly-half converted his try, and Bristol led 16-9. With a try in each of Bristol's European matches so far, Contepomi clearly likes the taste of the Heineken. But it turned flat soon after when Ross Beattie, on as a replacement for Rhys Oakley, was sent to the sin-bin.

Bristol had survived a yellow card for Darren Crompton in the first half without conceding a score. This time their 14 men were outflanked by a rousing Swansea breakout from deep in their own half. Richard Rees led the way up the left wing, and the forwards gave good support, with Ben Evans infield giving the scoring pass to Charvis to cover the final 30 metres. Arwel Thomas, who had replaced Henson, added the conversion, and though Contepomi replied immediately with a penalty goal, the wind was well and truly in Swansea's sails. Bristol could not cope with another length-of-the-field move by the home side, and Taylor sent Robinson in at the right-hand corner.

Thomas converted, and rounded things off nicely with a penalty thumped over from the halfway line, though few will be reserving a date in May down the road in Cardiff just yet.

Swansea: S Payne; M Robinson, M Taylor, S Gibbs, R Rees; G Henson (A Thomas, 63), S Cordingley (R Jones, 63); D Morris (capt, D Dorsey, 63), C Balshen, B Evans, A Farley, J Slade, C Charvis, J Bater, D Thomas.

Bristol: S Drahm; B Daniel, A Higgins (P Christophers, 2-6, h-t), D Gibson (capt), D Rees; F Contepomi, A Pichot; E Bergamaschi (S Nelson, 44), P Johnstone, D Crompton, S Morgan, A Brown, M Salter (S Nelson, 33-39), R Oakley (R Beattie, 51), C Short.

Referee: G di Santis (Italy)