Gavin Henson clocked up a century of points for the season as Swansea eventually broke Caerphilly's stubborn resistance in a 36-21 Welsh-Scottish League triumph at St Helen's.

The bottom-of-the-table visitors were within five points of the All Whites with just five minutes to play after a battling effort that underlines the impact made by new coach Terry Holmes.

Wales fly-half Henson reached his ton with a 21-point haul made up of five penalties and three conversions.

Scott Gibbs, Steve Winn and Colin Charvis added twice for the reigning Welsh champions, with Charvis' 65-metre effort the pick of the bunch.

The scores were locked at 16-16 at the break after a first half that had seen Swansea struggle to make headway against a side who had not previously won in the league this season.

It was miserable stuff as the All Whites underachieved at every turn with poor decision-making and a lack of urgency at forward blighting their game.

Caerphilly claimed the first try with 12 minutes on the clock - and it was fitting it should stem from a Swansea mistake.

A loose pass from Gibbs was intercepted by Justin Thomas and the former Wales full-back swept over unopposed beneath the home posts.

Ahead 13-6, Caerphilly were playing above themselves, but their momentum was checked when skipper David Hawkins was sent to the sin-bin after a professional foul on the half-hour.

Swansea made their extra numbers count as Gibbs powered through some less than assured defending for his fifth try of the season.

With Henson and Luke Richards each contributing a penalty hat-trick, there was nothing between the sides going into half-time.

But as the second half wore on Swansea's greater fitness against their semi-professional opponents became decisive.