Bridgend, the Welsh/Scottish league's surprise leaders, gave their chasers hope by losing their way in an eventful second half at Stradey Park as Llanelli suddenly found form and shape after losing two away matches within four days.

In a patchy first half, Bridgend had looked the more inventive as the Scarlets kept it tight and seemed in danger of going nowhere, despite taking the lead in the 11th minute with the first of two tries from powerful centre Dafydd James.

By half-time Bridgend, with South African Shaun van Rensburg an imposing back row figure, had gone ahead 17-8 after van Rensburg and wing Gareth Jones scored tries which fly-half Craig Warlow converted before adding a dropped goal.

But they couldn't come up with the same sort of answers as revitalised Llanelli turned it on straight from the restart.

Within a minute James had got his second try and 12 minutes later his side went ahead with a score from prop Phil Booth who rounded off a handling move wide out.

Fly-half Stephen Jones converted it and added the points to a penalty try awarded after James had been denied his hat-trick as he was obstructed in the corner.

Bridgend stuttered and their only response for a long time was a second penalty from Warlow before they staged a dramatic finish to get a try for skipper Richard Bryan which Warlow converted.

But Llanelli had done enough to make sure before then when Stephen Jones landed another penalty.

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Scorers - Llanelli: Tries: Penalty, D James 2, P Booth. Cons: S Jones 2. Pens: Jones 2

Bridgend: Tries: G Jones, R Bryan, S van Rensburg. Cons: C Warlow 3. Pen: Warlow. Drop Goal: Warlow

Teams - Llanelli: M Cardey, M Jones, D James, N Boobyer, S Finau, S Jones, R Moon, P Booth, R McBryde, M Madden, V Cooper, C Wyatt, D Jones, I Boobyer, D Hodges (capt)
Replacements: J Davies, M Thomas, C Gillies, M Buckingham, G Evans, D Peel, A Lawson

Bridgend: J Taumalolo, G Jones, J Devereux, A Durston, D Jones, C Warlow, J Hewlett, R Price, C Ferris, A Griffiths, P Clapham, C Stephens, R Bryan, J Ringer, S Van Rensburg
Replacements: S Ford, O Lloyd, M Molitika, C Noon, A Joy, A Jenkins, G Cull, B Baker

Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

Att: 3,500