Scarlets await red-letter day

Rob Cole
Sunday 12 May 1996 23:02 BST
Comments

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.

Llanelli 56 Newport 22

There was an emotional farewell for one of Llanelli's most famous sons, the skipper Phil Davies, in this rout, but the real business will come tomorrow night.

That is when the Scarlets travel to Cardiff to play their part in a thrilling final day shoot-out to decide the destination of this season's title. With Cardiff having drawn 27-27 at Pontypridd on Friday night, and Neath having scored 10 tries in their 58-31 triumph at Treorchy at the weekend, it means that the beaten Swalec Cup finalists go into the last round of matches with a six-try advantage.

Llanelli may have run in 10 tries against Newport, four of them coming from the makeshift full-back, Wayne Proctor, but their task tomorrow will be not to concede seven or more tries.

Cardiff's biggest chance of retaining the title is in securing maximum bonus points and hoping Pontypridd can restrict Neath to fewer than seven tries. It promises to be a nail-biting, mathematically complicated and thrilling night of rugby.

The re-run of the cup final at The Gnoll looks the toughest task on paper and proud Ponty have the meanest defence in the First Division. They have conceded the least number of bonus points this season, five, and no team has managed to score five tries against them to pick up two extra points. If Neath could secure maximum bonus points by scoring seven tries it would make it virtually impossible for Cardiff to win the league, but Pontypridd have only twice conceded seven tries in six seasons of Heineken League rugby.

Meanwhile, Leeds-bound Davies will sit-out the frenzied finale, because of a knee injury.

Scorers: Llanelli Tries Proctor 4, D Evans 3, Boobyer, Moon, G Evans; Conversions Pearce 3. Newport Tries Davies, Rees, Palfrey; Conversions Rees 2; Penalty Rees.

Llanelli: W Proctor; D Evans, N Boobyer, M Wintle, G Evans; S Pearce, R Moon (J Griffiths, 23); R Evans, J Hyatt, H Williams-Jones, P Davies (capt, L Williams, 76), P Jones, C Quinnell, C Wyatt, P Morris.

Newport: S Davies; C Arnold (J Lowry 47), D Hughes, A Palfrey, O Thomas; G Rees, C Ellis; S Duggan, I Jones (A Peacock, 70), S Cronk, M Workman, D Waters, A Carter (I Gough, 63), R Goodey, C Brown.

Referee: C Thomas (Bryn Coch).

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in