Jenkins failed with two match-winning attempts

Llanelli and Pontypridd battled to a stalemate in a bad-tempered Welsh Premiership game at Stradey Park.

Wales and Ponty fly-half Neil Jenkins, making his return after breaking a thumb in early February, missed a late penalty from 35m and a last-gasp drop-goal that could have given his side the win.

The 14 internationals on show contrived to produce a dreadful game that included four sin binnings.

Marcus Thomas and Salesi Finau crossed for tries for the Scarlets, with Gareth Baber and returning international Sonny Parker on the scoresheet for the visitors.

Match details: Llanelli Tries: M Thomas, S Finau Cons: G Bowen (2) Pens: Bowen (3) Pontypridd Tries: G Baber, S Parker Cons: N Jenkins (2) Pens: Jenkins (3)

Pontypridd had sprung a surprise in their starting line-up. Coach Lynn Howells had complained of struggling to field a side because of injuries and international calls, but in the event he named a formidable team.

The line-up included Parker and centre partner Jon Bryant - both absent since taking injuries in early January, Jenkins, and back-row man Michael Owen who had been released by the Wales management.

It was Llanelli who opened the scoring in the fifth minute, though, hooker Marcus Thomas finding a huge gap in the Pontypridd defence to scramble over.

Fly-half Gareth Bowen converted and added two more penalties, answering a brace from the boot of Jenkins.

Finau had an eventful game

Ponty came on strong late in the first half when scrum-half Gareth Baber touched down from a charged-down kick and then Parker slipped through the poor home defence to show Wales what they have been missing this Six Nations.

But Llanelli hit back two minutes before the break when, with both packs caught up in a brawl on the 22, wing Salesi Finau took advantage for a clear run-in.

Bowen's conversion levelled the score 20-20 at the interval. The second half deteriorated along with the weather as both sides turned to brawling.

Locks Chris Wyatt and Brent Cockbain were sin-binned after 51 minutes and it took until midway through the second half for Jenkins to break the stalemate with his third penalty success.

Finau and Pontypridd number eight Geraint Lewis were next to see yellow as tempers continued to flare, then Bowen brought the home side level with eight minutes left on the clock.

Llanelli: Barry Davies; Garan Evans, Matt Cardey, Leigh Davies (capt), Salesi Finau; Gareth Bowen, Robert Walters; Phil John, Marcus Thomas, John Davies, Vernon Cooper, Chris Wyatt, David Hodges, Ian Boobyer, Scott Quinnell.
Replacements: David Maddocks, Aled Gravell, Luke Gross, Paul Clapham, Adrian Williams, Neil Boobyer, Wayne Proctor.

Pontypridd: Brett Davey; Gareth Wyatt, Sonny Parker, Jon Bryant, Emyr Lewis; Neil Jenkins, Gareth Baber; Neil Hennessy, Matthew Rees, Duncan Bell, Michael Owen, Brent Cockbain, Nick Kelly, Wayne O'Connor, Geraint Lewis.
Replacements: S James, R Johnson, Beach, P Harris, D Burn, J Tilly, S Cronk.

Ref: Gareth Simmonds (Cardiff)

Att: 3,742