BBC SPORT | WELSH-SCOTTISH RUGBY | Llanelli win dour encounter

Pontypridd 15-19 Llanelli

Llanelli outside-half Stephen Jones held his nerve to kick two crucial late penalties as the Scarlets won a vital victory at muddy Sardis Road.

Jones missed a golden opportunity to seize the lead with eight minutes to go when he dragged a simple penalty wide, but two minutes later calmed his nerves to slot a more difficult kick over.

It made the score 15-16 and was the first time the Scarlets had been in the lead.

And with two minutes remaining the Wales full-back kicked another penalty as Pontypridd killed the ball desperately on the floor.

Llanelli's win makes Pontypridd's hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup much more difficult, but has handed the Scarlets a European lifeline.

With so much riding on the game, it was little wonder the match was punctuated by nervous handling errors.

Craig Gillies is hoisted at a line out
Craig Gillies: Sin-binned for stamping

Lee Jarvis had put the home side firmly in control with five penalties - two from the halfway line - to give his side a 15-6 lead.

Llanelli struggled for an hour until the introduction of Martyn Madden and Chris Wyatt from the bench sparked them in to life.

Dafydd James and Silesi Finau combined on the left as the Sacrlets surged up field.

The ball was recycled quickly and American flanker David Hodges burst over from the base of a ruck from eight yards out.

Stephen Jones' conversion narrowed the deficit to 15-13 and the Scarlets piled the pressure on their hosts.

Pontypridd were unable to deal with Llanelli's pace out wide, with the soggy pitch conspiring to make handling and flowing rugby a near impossibility.

Scorers - Pontypridd: Pens: Jarvis 5

Llanelli: Tries: Hodges. Con: S Jones. Pen: S Jones: 4

Teams:

Pontypridd: B Davey, G Wyatt, S Parker, J Lewis, J Colderley, L Jarvis, P John (capt), C Loader, F Vunipola, S Cronk, W James, R Sidoli, M Lloyd, R Field, M Owen.
Replacements: C Sweeney, R Neville, Beaumont-Morgan, P Graham, G Jenkins, J Evans, R Parks.

Llanelli: G Evans; S Finau, D James, L Davies, M Jones; S Jones, G Easterby; P Booth R McBryde, J Davies, V Cooper, C Gillies, D Hodges, I Boobyer, S Quinnell.
Replacements: C Wyatt, M Madden, M Thomas, D Jones, D Peel, A Lawson, M Cardey.

Referee: Gareth Simmonds (Cardiff)


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