Swansea struck the first blow for Wales aead of next Saturday's Six Nations Championship clash with Scotland by winning at Edinburgh Reivers on Friday night.

All Whites coach John Plumtree admitted it was a big step towards his side claiming the Welsh-Scottish league title - and it came at Murrayfield, where the national sides are soon to do battle.

The under-strength All Whites scored a 24-16 victory over the Reivers to move six points clear of rivals Cardiff at the top of the table. Cardiff have two games in hand but Swansea have now beaten both Scottish Super Districts on their travels - the only Welsh side to achieve this.

Plumtree said: ``They say you win Championships away from home so obviously this is a massive win.

``With the Scotland-Wales game next weekend we knew the Reivers side would be fired up to impress.

``Fortunately our players had a few points to prove and we managed to sneak the win.

``I'm not sure that it will help the Wales side next week but obviously a few of our lads will be there and it won't have done them any harm.''

Plumtree believes his quadruple substitution halfway through the second half was crucial after recent strength-sapping defeats at Wasps, Stade Français and Leicester.

The New Zealander said: ``Those fresh legs were crucial. It meant half the pack was new. It made a big difference and worked out just like we planned it!

``The game was very tight but those guys gave us a boost and we had the energy to hang on at the end.''

The changes allowed Swansea to turn a 13-11 half-time deficit around, with a superb converted try from full-back Kevin Morgan and two Cerith Rees penalties securing the win.

Back-rower Geraint Lewis had given the visitors a quick-fire lead which Rees added to with the first of his two first-half penalties.

But a try from Scotland full-back Chris Paterson - which capped a fine move in the backs - converted by Duncan Hodge, who also struck two penalties, looked to have set up a famous win for Edinburgh.

But Morgan's try and Rees' boot ended those hopes, despite the Reivers continuing to enjoy a large share of possession and territorial advantage.

This lack of a cutting edge was Reivers' coach Frank Hadden's chief concern.

Hadden said: ``Every time we were in their 22 we came up short again. It is a recurring problem and one we need to sort out.

``It looked to me as if we had numbers over there but someone went for an interception and they made the most out of it. They are a good side and the difference was they were more clinical.''