Rugby Union: Hayward determined to strike blow for Scarlets

BYRON HAYWARD is desperate to erase his Cup final misery of last year by helping Llanelli to a unique treble at Ninian Park this afternoon.

The Wales full-back will be a key player for the Scarlets when they defend their Swalec Cup crown against Swansea at the climax of a season in which the club has already walked off with the Premier Division title and the Challenge Trophy. However, a year ago Hayward walked off a loser at Ashton Gate, the home of Bristol City, when Llanelli secured a record 10th cup final victory at the expense of Ebbw Vale. It was a cruel blow for the former professional boxer, who eventually picked himself off the canvas and, in the autumn of last year, moved to Stradey Park as part of Ebbw Vale's cost-cutting exercise.

"Coming second in the cup final was devastating. It took me weeks to get over it," said Hayward, who scored a hat-trick on his Wales debut against Zimbabwe last summer. "After the game our changing room was not a happy place to be, it was deadly quiet for a long, long time. A seven- year-old Ebbw Vale supporter came in and said `don't worry, you are still the best', and that brought a tear to a couple of players' eyes. Hopefully Llanelli will win it again this season. We have done well to survive a very arduous campaign and the boys are looking forward to meeting Swansea."

Swansea's absence from the Welsh League this season means the fierce west Wales rivals will be meeting for the only time this campaign. What is more, the Cup is the only chance of any silverware for the side who, along with Cardiff, turned their backs on the Welsh Premier Division last summer to pursue a season of friendlies against top English opposition. "If we are to prove we are the best in Wales we have to beat Swansea in the final, it's that simple," said Hayward.

Swansea have been buoyed by the return to fitness of Scott Gibbs and, in Darren Morris, Garin Jenkins and Ben Evans, they have an all-international front row to lead the way. They will start as favourites, but Llanelli have been written off before. Dismiss them at your peril.

Llanelli: B Hayward; W Proctor, S Finau, N Davies, G Evans; S Jones, R Moon; M Madden, R McBryde, J Davies, C Wyatt, M Voyle, H Jenkins, S Quinnell, I Boobyer.

Swansea: D Weatherley; R Rees, M Taylor, S Gibbs, M Robinson; A Thomas, R Jones; D Morris, G Jenkins, B Evans, T Maullin, A Moore, P Moriarty, L Jones, D Thomas.