BBC SPORT | WELSH-SCOTTISH RUGBY | Sweet revenge for Llanelli

Llanelli 34-25 Cardiff

Any faint hopes Cardiff may have still held of retaining their Welsh-Scottish League title were dashed by Llanelli at Stradey Park.

The victory handed Swansea the title, and was also sweet revenge for the Scarlets after their 65-15 mauling at the hands of Cardiff in the Principality Cup in February.

Despite playing without their three Lions, Llanelli proved too strong for the former champions.

Both teams scored three tries apiece, but four Stephen Jones penalties in the second half proved decisive.

Cardiff thought they had opened their try count on 16 minutes when Pieter Muller charged down a week clearance after Paul Jones' scintillating pace broke through the Llanelli mid-field defence.

But to the delighted of the home crowd, referee Clayton Thomas saw a knock on in the build up and disallowed the try.

Two minutes later though, the visitors scored a legitimate try when South African flanker Wayne Fyvie was powered over from five yards from the impressive Cardiff pack. Mike Rayer converted to put his team 7-3 up.

Delicate

Five minutes later, Llanelli produced their best rugby of the match and soon found themselves 15-7 ahead.

Full-back Matt Cardey crossed over on the left for their first try after Leigh Davies took advantage of quick lineout ball to break through Cardiff's defence.

The left wing was again a profitable area of attack for the Scarlets as winger Salesi Finau powered through several weak tackles to extend Llanelli's lead.

Llanelli full-back Matt Cardey
Matt Cardey scores a try to his obvious delight
But with half-time approaching, centre Jamie Robinson brought Cardiff right back into the match with a try under the posts.

Veteran fly-half Mike Rayer was the try's instigator as he fooled the Llanelli defence with one of his trademark dummy passes to send Muller towards the posts.

When he was tackled, fellow centre Robinson was on his shoulder to gratefully receive a pass to touchdown under the posts.

There was still time for Stephen Jones to miss a penalty at goal before the referee blew for half-time with the game delicately balanced at 15-14.

Struggle

In a remarkable first two minutes of the second-half, Cardiff took the lead through a Rayer drop goal only to see Llanelli hit back immediately with a try.

Hooker Marcus Thomas gained valuable yards after bursting from a ruck 10 yards out, and lock Craig Gillies was on hand to take a pass to crash over.

Stephen Jones landed his second conversion, but Rayer kept Cardiff in touch with a penalty three minutes later.

But four Jones penalties without reply put Llanelli 34-20 ahead with 10 minutes left as Cardiff struggled to cope with the home side's decisive running among both forwards and backs.

Cardiff strung some desperate late attacks together in an attempt to keep their championship winning hopes alive, and Craig Quinnell finally crashed over.

But it proved to be merely a consultation try as Llanelli ended their season with a deserved victory.

Llanelli: Tries: Cardey, Finau, C. Gillies. Cons: S. Jones 2. Pens: S. Jones 5.

Cardiff: Tries: Robinson, Quinnell, Fyvie. Cons: Rayer 2. Pen: Rayer. Drop Goal: Rayer.

Att: 4,500

Teams -

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

Cardiff: R Williams; P Jones, J Robinson, P Muller, C Morgan; M Rayer, R Powell; S John, A Lewis (capt), G Powell, C Quinnell, J Tait, O Williams, D McShane , W Fyvie.
Replacements: Ellis, Davies, G Thomas, Moore, Grainger, P Rogers, Geraghty.

Referee: Clayton Thomas (Neath).


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