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Saturday, 25 January, 2003, 19:13 GMT
Bridgend surge on
Sililo Martens and Scott Quinnell
Scott Quinnell connects with Sililo Martens
Bridgend 19-5 Llanelli

The Ravens maintained their 100% Welsh Premiership record with a comfortable win over a weakened Llanelli at the Brewery Field.

A rampant first-half from Bridgend's oft-derided forwards paved the way for victory.

Talented young centre David Bishop scored the home side's only try and full-back Gareth Cull contributed 14 points with the boot.

The Scarlets had made nine changes from their Heineken Cup side, as once again their second string proved unequal to the task required of them in the league.

Gareth Cull
Cull's kicking kept Bridgend in control
Bridgend ripped into the disorganised Scarlets from the start, two Cull penalties giving them the early advantage.

In the 10th minute the home fans were treated to the unusual sight of seeing the Llanelli scrum destroyed by the Ravens' eight.

From the resultant chaos, Corey Harris seized the loose ball, then Gareth Thomas handled well to send Bishop over for his try.

Llanelli's problems were compounded when Scott Quinnell was sin binned after laying a huge punch on Sililo Martens.

Match details:
Bridgend
Try: D Bishop
Con: G Cull
Pens: Cull (4)
Llanelli
Try: B Davies
Bridgend's total dominance of the first half was confirmed as two more Cull kicks made it 19-0 at the break, and the Scarlets could only be relieved that the normally dead-eyed goal-kicker had actually missed three other shots at goal.

A half-time pep-talk from Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins saw them start the second period with more fire, as their forwards got back on terms with the home eight.

They struggled to break through the stubborn Ravens defence, though, not looking like making headway into the big Bridgend lead.

The Scarlets' cause was hardly helped by a succession of handling errors that stood in sharp contrast to the polished European performance away in Glasgow last weekend.

We knew Llanelli would be confident after Europe and we had to get amongst them from the start

Gareth Thomas
The players seemed to have joined most of the crowd and commentators in losing interest by the end.

The final 40 looked like finishing pointless until Barry Davies scythed through the Bridgend cover for a try with the last move of the match.

After the match, Bridgend captain Gareth Thomas said: "We knew Llanelli would be confident after Europe and we had to get amongst them from the start.

"It means everything to us and the supporters."


Bridgend: G Cull; R Mustoe, D Bishop, G Thomas (capt), A Havili; C Warlow, S Martens; C Loader, G Williams, C Horsman, A Moore, D Jones, N Budgett, R Bryan, C Harris.
Reps: M James, S Mannix, H Harries, P Booth, J Thiel, B Phillips, M Molitika.

Llanelli: B Davies; W Proctor, M Cardey, L Davies, G Evans; G Bowen, D Peel; P John, M Thomas, J Davies, L Gross, C Wyatt, D Jones, I Boobyer, S Quinnell.
Reps: I Thomas, A Gravell, P Clapham, D Hodges, G Easterby, T Selley, M Watkins.

Referee: Kerry Evans (WRU)


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