WELSH Conservatives have welcomed a tax cut which they say will affect 1.1 million workers.

It is because the personal income tax allowance will be increased by £1,335 from today to £9,440.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the opposition in the Welsh Government, said: "These figures show how Conservatives in Government are taking tough decisions to make work pay and reward those who work hard.

"From today, 1.1 million workers in Wales will pay less in tax and 57,000 of the lowest earners will be taken out of tax altogether thanks to this Conservative-led coalition.

"Conservatives believe that the people can spend money better than governments, so we welcome more money in people's pockets.

"Welsh Conservatives have backed a council tax freeze for two successive years, which would have provided relief to hard-pressed taxpayers."

Mr Davies added: "Together with the measures in the Chancellor's latest Budget, this tax cut shows the Conservatives are on the side of hardworking families."

PATIENTS have again been facing long queues at hospitals in Swansea.

Ambulances queued up at Morriston Hospital yesterday, with patients having to wait on board for hours before they were seen.

The delays come as a doctor who chairs a British Medical Association committee in Wales warns Welsh A&E departments are at "breaking point".

Full story — page 9

BRYNTAWE'S Kieran Evans struck a superb hat-trick as Swansea Schools Under-14s stormed back to see off group leaders Cardiff 3-2.

Swansea went into the game knowing they needed a win to qualify for the semi-finals.

The match started at a frantic pace with Cardiff slightly edging the early stages through their greater physicality.

However, once Swansea settled they started to exert themselves with their possession game incorporating great movement and pace.

Against the run of play Cardiff took the lead with a well-angled shot which goalkeeper Alex Lang (Penyrheol) could do nothing about. Swansea drew level shortly after when Keiran Evans (Bryntawe) connected with a left-foot volley just outside the box which rifled into the top corner of the net. Immediately from kick-off Cardiff broke away and after a mistake in the Swansea defence scored their second.

Much to Swansea's credit, they continued to pass and move with their midfield trio of Jordan Jones (Birchgrove), Mark Harries (Olchfa) and Keiran Evans (Bryntawe) dictating play.

They tried to probe the Cardiff defence and unleash the pacy Karma Bulyani (Bishop Vaughan) or spread it wide to the threatening Josh Harewood (Penyrheol) and Jordan Hughes (Ffynone).

Swansea eventually equalised after another foul was committed by Cardiff, resulting in a free-kick just outside the box. Evans stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Swansea continued to dominate in the second half. Ben Morgan (Bishop Vaughan) and James Eynon (Olchfa) were strong in defence and keeper Alex Lang composed on the ball as Ronan Templeton (Pentrehafod) and Josh Hier (Pontarddulais) pushed forward.

The winner came when Evans picked the ball up outside the Cardiff area, dribbled passed the oncoming defenders, before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner.

Swansea: Alex Lang, Ronan Templeton, Josh Hier, Ben Morgan, James Eynon, Mark Harries, Jordan Jones, Keiran Evans (captain), Josh Harewood, Jordan Hughes, Kharma Bulyani, Alex Giardelli, Issac Thomas, Callum Carson, Daryl Hughes.

SWANSEA Schools FA has been saved from the scrap heap by Brian Thomas of Trinity Metals, Morriston — a former Swansea Schools player in his days at Hafod School.

Brian was a member of the audience at the Chris Coleman fundraising dinner for the Association in September and was dismayed at hearing about the financial difficulties of the Association.

It prompted him to call chairman Martin Evans to see how he could help.

As a result, Swansea Schools have a new kit sponsor for several representative squads, who compete in the Welsh Schools Inter-Association competitions and the English Schools Trophy at Under 15 age group.

"People often don't realise that the Swansea Schools FA is totally self-funded and is not eligible for any grants from the various sporting bodies both locally and nationally.

"We are indebted to the local council who provide as many facilities as they can but this unfortunately is restricted to times that aren't always suitable to visiting squads.

"The kindness shown by Brian will go a long way to securing the future of the Association, especially as we will be celebrating our centenary year during the 2014-15 season."

The four-figure sum will also help the Association take care of all Schools' football and the various development projects that are on-going for girls, disability and inclusion football.

Currently there are in excess of 60 primary schools registered to play in the year five/six and year three/four festivals.

The comprehensive schools also compete at every age group with more than 70 different teams playing across the city.

For the first time this year, all schools' finals will be played at St Helen's.

Meanwhile the respective representative squads have all completed their Inter-Association matches and three out of the four squads have made in through to the semi-finals which will be played in Cardiff on April 20.

The under-13s squad take on Caerphilly, the under-14s will play Knowsley and the under-15s play Cardiff and the Vale.

All games are being played at Llanrumney Playing Fields in Cardiff (all 3pm kick-offs).

The under-11s squad has also enjoyed a successful season and have been rewarded for their efforts by being invited to participate in the Tom Yeoman Festival which is also held in Cardiff on May 4.

On the domestic front, the Secondary Schools Finals will be held at St. Helen's on April 29 and 30 from 3pm onwards.

The semi-finals will take place during the first week of the summer term and are as follows.

Year 11 (U16s): Gowerton v Pentrehafod; Birchgrove v Penyrheol

Year 10 (U15s): Pontarddulais v Cefn Hengoed; Pentrehafod v Olchfa.

Year 9 (U14s): Bishopston v Pentrehafod; Bishop Vaughan v Penyrheol

Year 8 (U13s): Olchfa v Bishop Vaughan; Pentrehafod v Penyrheol

Year 7 (U12s): Bishopston v Morriston; Pentrehafod v Olchfa

Bishopston Comprehensive School year seven and Pentrehafod year 11 squads have reached the Welsh Schools National Finals and will play the winners of Connahs Quay v Creuddyn (year seven) and Dyffrn Amman (year 11) at TNS on the weekend of May 11-12.

Olchfa Comprehensive School year 9 squad have also qualified for the National Finals and will play Brynhyfryd at Aberystwyth Town FC on Tuesday April 23.

The winner of this competition will represent Wales at the SAFIB Allen McKinstry Tournament in Glasgow (May 24-26).

The Olchfa year 13 side have also reached the Welsh Schools National Finals and will play Brynhyfryd on the weekend of the May 11-12 at TNS.

Gower College Under-19s have reached the finals of the Welsh Colleges Final and will play the winner of Menai and Llandrillo at TNS on the weekend May 11-12. The Swansea Schools FA would like to congratulate all the squads and their teachers and coaches for their achievements.

A MALE cat is looking for a new home after months living as a stray.

Kevin is being cared for by Swansea and District Cats Protection.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: "Kevin is a nice big chunky male cat.

"He came into us as a result of him being a stray for a few months.

"He is a lovely natured, affectionate cat and would make a friendly pet."

If you are interested in providing a home for Kevin, or another cat, phone Swansea and District Cats Protection on 0845 2179648 or visit www.swanseacats.co.uk

WORK on a major rail project, which will lead to increased services to Gowerton and on to West Wales, is due to be completed this weekend.

The £48 million project has involved the replacement of the Loughor viaduct and redoubling a stretch of line almost five and a half miles long, from Swansea through to Gowerton.

It has been carried out to meet a projected 20 per cent rise in the number of West Wales railway passengers by 2020.

Arriva Trains Wales says the move will lead to 14 additional services calling at Gowerton in each direction Monday to Saturday, and 11 on Sunday, with a new platform at the station.

Mark Langman, Network Rail route managing director, Wales, said: "The difficult and exciting task of replacing the Loughor Viaduct is now complete and progress with the redoubling of the five-mile stretch of line is going to plan.

"This new viaduct and redoubling of the railway through Gowerton will remove the current bottleneck created by the stretch of single line and provide capacity to run more trains in the future.

"This project joins a number of other rail improvement projects in South and West Wales that will help deliver better journeys and boost economic growth in the area. The new viaduct at Loughor and the redoubling, as well as the new station platform and footbridge at Gowerton, are part of a package of station and infrastructure improvements to make rail travel more comfortable and attractive to the public.

"As well as making it easier to travel to and from West Wales, they will help to boost local employment opportunities. I would like to thank people for their patience while we have worked to improve the viaduct and lay the second track."

The stretch of railway has been closed for the past two weeks while work is completed, and is due to reopen on Monday, with the new services due to be introduced on May 19.

In addition to the extra services at Gowerton, all single carriage train services will be doubled between Swansea, Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

And a Cardiff to Swansea service will be extended to Llanelli in the afternoons with a new morning service between the two cities.

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "These changes are good news for passengers in West Wales.

"Many passengers, including commuters and visitors to the area, will see real benefits from this package of changes. These improvements demonstrate Arriva Trains Wales's continued commitment to enhance services across Wales, making full use of Welsh Government's investment in new infrastructure and efficient use of our fleet of trains."

The original Loughor viaduct was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Trains first began travelling over the viaduct in 1852.

Major rebuilding work was carried out in 1909, and there was substantial alteration in 1981.

17 timber trestles supported the old deck across the estuary. The new structure has six new piers supporting it.

Five trestles have been retained in the estuary as a reminder of the old structure, four to the west, one to the east.

The improved capacity offers the opportunity for one train every twenty minutes.

The length of track redoubled between Swansea and Gowerton is 5.25 miles long.

This stretch of railway is due to open on Monday with additional services timetable to begin on May 19.

I MAY be a Jack, but I have regularly crossed the Loughor estuary to "the other side".

In recent months if it's been by road, my head turns, when safety allows, to catch sight of what seems an impressive feat of engineering.

This is, after all, a massive project. It's probably the biggest bridge built in Wales in the last decade, at a cost of a cool £48 million.

For that money, commuters will get more trains, with more frequency, providing more opportunity, to shop, for leisure — and new potential for people living west to consider employment in Swansea and beyond. I have also travelled over the estuary by rail, but yesterday was a rare opportunity — to walk along the stretch of brand new line by foot.

Network Rail, clearly pleased with the delivery of the project, had invited a media party to see the new line over the new viaduct close up.

They are not taking any chances, and we are decked out in high-visibility overalls, hard hats, gloves, and glasses. It's a striking piece of work, and mercifully the weather is kind to us, bright sun affording us a view from the bridge over the water to Penclawdd.

Below us, a small safety boat waits in the water, as it has round the clock while the work has been carried out, in the event of anyone falling in the water (they haven't).

The viaduct is 220 metres long and its colossal weight can only be imagined.

It has been constructed in quarters, extended out over the water, and, when the former trestles have been demolished and replaced, slid into place with millimetre accuracy. Conditions in recent weeks have been Arctic, yet the workers here have been putting in 12-hour shifts exposed to those elements.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed the first railway viaduct over this stretch of water, and this seems equally impressive. Denizens of Swansea and Llanelli have always viewed each other as different, but it's a familial relationship. And from next month, there will be even more opportunities to visit our brothers and cousins.

ADDITIONAL train services to West Wales are set to begin, following the completion of a £48 million railway project involving the replacement of the Loughor Viaduct.

The Network Rail project has involved redoubling a stretch of railway almost five and a half miles long between Swansea and Gowerton stations, and has been carried out to meet a projected 20 per cent rise in the number of West Wales railway passengers by 2020.

Arriva Trains Wales will now double the number of train services between Pembroke Dock, Carmarthen and Swansea, and a Cardiff to Swansea service will be extended to Llanelli in the afternoons, with a new morning service between the two cities.

Network Rail says the project will improve opportunities for people from West Wales to visit Swansea and Cardiff for leisure and shopping, as well as employment.

Mark Langman, route managing director, Wales, said: "This new viaduct and redoubling of the railway through Gowerton will remove the current bottleneck created by the stretch of single line and provide capacity to run more trains in the future.

"This project joins a number of other rail improvement projects in South and West Wales that will help deliver better journeys and boost economic growth in the area."

Arriva Trains Wales says it can now introduce 14 additional services calling at Gowerton in each direction, Monday to Saturday, with 11 on Sunday.

The stretch of railway has been closed for the past two weeks, to allow the project to be completed. It is due to reopen on Monday.

The new services are due to begin on May 16.

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales said: "These changes are good news for passengers in West Wales.

"Many passengers, including commuters and visitors to the area, will see real benefits from this package of changes."

JONATHAN de Guzman is dreaming of an appearance on the global game's greatest stage just 12 months after tumbling out of Spain's top tier.

The Swansea City midfielder's career looked to be on the slide after parent club Villarreal were relegated from La Liga last season.

To compound matters, de Guzman had not even been able to hold down a regular place in a struggling side.

He made just 11 league starts for Villarreal last term and his only goal came in a 3-1 Champions League reverse to Bayern Munich.

That is not the way de Guzman had pictured things when he completed a £6 million move from Mallorca a year earlier.

The 25-year-old was facing the prospect of a year on the bench in the Segunda division, a level that sometimes only attracts crowds of a few thousand.

Then Swansea came calling.

The Feyenoord youth product agreed a season-long loan switch to South Wales and hasn't looked back since.

He has played a central role as Swansea again defied the doubters to thrive in the Premier League.

They are on course for a top ten finish and also claimed a first piece of major silverware by lifting the Capital One Cup.

Meanwhile, de Guzman has also gained individual recognition.

Holland handed him an international debut against Italy in February and he has since faced Estonia and Romania in World Cup qualifiers.

Now de Guzman is aiming to win a place in the Dutch squad for next year's finals in Brazil.

"Playing week-in, week-out and staying fit was very important to me after a tough season at Villarreal," he said.

"Winning the Capital One Cup and doing so well with Swansea as well as winning a Dutch cap is all a bonus.

"I was relegated with Diego Lopez at Villarreal and now he has one foot in the Champions League semi-finals with Real Madrid.

"I'm happy for him, and personally this has been a great experience for me.

"It was also a great experience at Villarreal and one I learned from.

"Bringing that experience to a different club has helped me a lot.

"It's been great so I can't complain."

Canadian-born de Guzman became the first naturalised Dutchman to play for the country after claiming citizenship in 2008.

He moved to Holland aged 12, joining Feyenoord's academy and eventually progressing to the first team.

His international debut came when he was introduced in the second half against Italy.

And de Guzman impressed enough to start in both of Oranje's next two Group D games.

Comfortable victories in both those matches have left Louis van Gaal's side with a 100 per cent record and seven points clear at the top of their pool, with four games left to play.

Holland have one foot in Rio and de Guzman aims to be part of the travelling party.

"The first game I played against Italy was basically my test from the coach to see how I could perform, how I could adjust to the group," he said.

"He thought I did well and that's why I was involved for the qualification matches.

"It's a different kind of pressure because the whole country's watching you and you're trying to reach a World Cup, but it's been good.

"It's every footballer's dream to play in a World Cup and coming from where I'm from it's huge.

Confident

"It's a different story coming from Canada and playing for the Dutch national team.

"I feel confident the squad will make it to the World Cup and hopefully I can be a part of it."

Another Swansea player hoping to make the Dutch plane is goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Though a regular international squad member over the last few years, he has struggled to dislodge first choice stopper Maarten Stekelenburg.

And there is also stiff competition for a place on the bench, with Ajax's Kenneth Vermeer and Tim Krul of Newcastle battling for the sub keeper spot.

"Vorm is a great player," said de Guzman.

"I've known him from the Dutch league and I knew he would do very well here.

"In Holland we have great keepers. We have Vermeer playing good and Stekelenburg and Krul also.

"Michel's been unlucky, but I'm sure he'll get a shot sooner or later.

"He's on the radar, he's getting picked for a reason.

"He's consistent, he's been playing well and I think he could fit into the first XI easily."

Swansea's goalkeeper also offered a helping hand to de Guzman off the pitch.

Vorm arrived a year before his countryman when he completed a £1.5 million move from Utrecht in the summer of 2011.

And he used that experience to make de Guzman's switch as smooth as possible.

"He's a very good guy off the pitch, he's always trying to help," said the former Manchester City target.

"He knew about Swansea before me so he told me the ins and outs.

"He said Swansea play good football and it will suit my style of play.

"He said Swansea is small, not too big, but we mainly talked about football.

"He told me the team has great potential, great players and that I'd get minutes if I kept working hard."

Vorm is also on hand to offer an unflinching opinion on Swansea performances.

The 29-year-old expects high standards and pulls no punches when they are not met.

Having played a year in the Premier League before de Guzman joined him, Vorm had a pretty good handle on the teams that make up the division.

"He tries to keep people sharp, he's a typical Dutch guy, he's never satisfied," said de Guzman.

"Every week Michel has a little column for every team so we know what to expect.

"From his experience last season, he knows how teams play, who plays good ball and who plays long ball. He's a good guy to have."

No doubt this week Vorm will have warned de Guzman of the dangers posed by a physical and direct Norwich side.

The midfielder sampled those tactics first hand when Chris Hughton's side secured a 4-3 victory at the Liberty in December.

Vorm has also tasted defeat to the Canaries on two other occasions last season.

"There's a pressure on every game and stats don't lie," added de Guzman.

"Knowing that we haven't got a point from Norwich, it's going to be difficult.

"But if we play our normal game and don't get dragged into anything physical, we'll be okay."

Swansea may have lost every match to Norwich since their elevation to the Premier League.

But as de Guzman knows, in football fortunes can change very quickly.

By Gareth Vincent

MICHAEL Laudrup saluted Swansea City for matching Norwich City's desire after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Carrow Road this afternoon.

Swansea were left with mixed emotions having got in front through Michu's 21st goal of the season but then found themselves 2-1 down.

Sloppy defending cost Laudrup's men twice, as Robert Snodgrass and Michael Turner netted to put Norwich 2-1 up with half an hour to play.

But Swansea fought back to claim a deserved draw when Luke Moore marked his bright display with a 75th-minute leveller.

There were chances for Swansea to win it, most notably through Michu, but they emerged relatively happy after taking a first Premier League point off the Canaries at the fourth attempt.

The draw ended Swansea's run of three successive defeats and boosted their hopes of a top-half Premier League finish.

"There's a difference between a team who want to win and a team who would like to win," Laudrup said.

"Norwich really wanted to win because they still need some points to be sure of survival, and I said to the players that we had to match that otherwise we would lose again.

"I think we did that. Maybe we could have won, but maybe we could have lost as well.

"There were different moments in the game. Am I satisfied with a point or should it have been three? That's a difficult question to answer."

Swansea were without Leon Britton after his wife gave birth to twin boys, while Ben Davies came off early after a bout of sickness.

There was late controversy after Norwich substitute Grant Holt's studs-up challenge on Chico Flores.

A foul was awarded by referee Michael Oliver, but Holt was fortunate to escape further sanction over a tackle which left Flores fuming.

"I don't know how bad it was – whether it was a yellow, red or pink card," Laudrup added.

"But I am just glad that while he is a little bit sore, Chico has not suffered a serious injury.

"You have to remember that he has just come back after seven weeks out injured, and I think he felt the challenge could have caused another bad injury."