Llanelli take cold comfort in emphatic semi-final win
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Not even a trip to a record 17th Principality Cup final will put Llanelli's season back on the straight and narrow. Two weeks after their Heineken Cup campaign came to a halt against Perpignan, the Welsh cup kings produced a performance that would surely have seen them through to a European semi-final.
Their six tries in a 44-10 hammering of Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium will at least give Leigh Davies one final appearance on 3 May, but it's not the one everyone wanted at Stradey Park.
Having accounted for the cup holders, Pontypridd, in the last round, Cardiff came into the game full of hope. It lasted seven minutes before Mark Jones skinned Rhys Williams and sent the full-back Barry Davies over for the first try.
From thereon it was virtually one-way traffic, with the Wales outside-half Stephen Jones dictating proceedings superbly for the Scarlets. Jones helped himself to 16 points, including a first-half try.
Facing Llanelli in the final will be Newport, who turned the tables on Bridgend in the first of the back-to-back semi-finals at the Millennium Stadium. Newport relied on the boot of the former Springbok Percy Montgomery to guide them to a 27-23 win.
Montgomery kicked a perfect nine out of nine penalties as the lead changed hands six times in a game that had the fans on the edge of their seat right to the end. Bridgend ran in the only tries through Craig Warlow and their captain, Gareth Thomas, but Montgomery's mighty boot steered the Black and Ambers through to the final.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments