Llanelli reserves come good

Pontypool 22 Llanelli 3

If Llanelli go one better than their runners-up role of last season and win the Principality Cup for a 12th time this year then they will certainly have done it the hard way.

These days the Welsh Premiership clubs only have to win three matches to reach the final, but they are given the unenviable task of travelling away in their first match. When the draw paired Llanelli with the First Division leaders, Pontypool, the Scarlets coach, Gareth Jenkins, knew he had trouble on his hands.

But he didn't realise he would have to do without his nine Wales squad players and that Lions forwards Robin McBryde and Scott Quinnell would be ruled out with injury. Thankfully, the Irish coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, allowed the Easterby brothers, Guy and Simon, to play the weekend ahead of the Six Nations opener in Scotland.

In the end, Llanelli weathered a late revival to take their place in the quarter-finals and a home draw against the Celtic League finalists, Neath. However, the Wales coach Steve Hansen has made it clear it will be his decision on which of the Welsh players would be released for Cup duty. As Neath only have one player in the Six Nations squad, they look set to travel to Stradey Park with an advantage.

But before the Neath coach, Lyn Jones, counts his chickens he would do well to examine the depths to which Llanelli dug. The Easterbys excelled as did reserves Tal Selley and Gareth Bowen and the prop Phil John played from start to finish despite a stomach bug.

As for Pontypool, they gave their 7,000 fans some cheer as they overcame a third-minute defensive lapse that allowed Bowen to send Selley in for a try and a 10-7 lead. The scores were tied at 10-10 at the break before the Scarlets pulled away with three tries without reply to take a 20-point lead.

Game over. Almost. There was time for Pontypool to grab two late tries that put a smile on the home punters' faces. But they must have known that the gap between the part-timers and the professionals, even the back-up crew, is too big to bridge these days.

Pontypool: Tries Hawker, Woodard, Rowles; Conversions Hayward 2; Penalty Hawyard. Llanelli: Tries Thomas 2, Selley, Hodges; Conversions: Bowen 2; Penalty Bowen 2.

Pontypool: D Smith (J Rowles, 71); L Woodard, J Hawker, B Jeffries (J Devereux, 70), J Griffin; B Hayward, N Lloyd (K Ellis, 75); A Phillips, L Jones (R Miller, 78), G Gunter (O Price, 70), R Hunt, D Cross, S Waldron, R Field (L McPherson, 72), M Jones (capt, J Powell 55).

Llanelli: B Davies; W Proctor, M Cardey, T Selley, G Evans (N Boobyer, 73); G Bowen, G Easterby (M Phillips, 73); P John, M Thomas, J Davies, C Wyatt, L Gross, S Easterby (J Cudmore, 73), I Boobyer, D Hodges.

Referee: C Saunders (Aberbeen).

PRINCIPALITY CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Bridgend v Swansea
Ebbw Vale v Newport
Llanelli v Neath
Cardiff v Pontypridd

ties to be played on 15 March