Warlow's potential lights up Llanelli

Llanelli 31 Bridgend 17

Llanelli's vague hopes of a possible league and cup double of a few weeks ago may have gone up in smoke, but this win more or less guarantees the Scarlets Heineken Cup rugby next season.

That is the one front on which the cash-strapped West Wales club could not afford to fail and, with a 13-points gap over fifth-placed Bridgend, look set for a place among Europe's elite.

There is little doubt that the coach, Gareth Jenkins, has faced a tough task rebuilding his team this season. Even without any new silverware he will be pleased with the progress made. How much further his side can develop will be dependent on two factors this summer - how many of his squad are lured by English lucre and how much of its pounds 750,000 overdraft the club can clear.

Some things, though, at Stradey Park seem never to change. Rupert Moon is as inspirational as ever at scrum-half and the famous production line of outside-halves is continuing. While Moon rifled round the narrow side of a ruck for the game's opening try after half an hour it was his half- back partner, Craig Warlow, who was making the biggest impact.

A fourth-minute penalty was followed by two touchline conversions from Warlow's cultured boot. At the start of the second half the 20-year-old student added a try before making the break for another. Frano Botica may have cost Llanelli an arm and a leg, but his tuition of Warlow is already paying dividends.

Bridgend's bravery earned them two second-half tries through the No 8 Andrew Williams, but theirs now looks a forlorn fight for a top-four finish.

Llanelli: Tries Moon, Boobyer, Warlow, Wyatt. Conversions Warlow 4. Penalty Warlow. Bridgend: Tries Williams 2. Conversion Lewis 2. Penalty Lewis.

Llanelli: S Jones; W Proctor, N Davies, N Boobyer, G Evans; C Warlow, R Moon (A Thomas, 76); H Williams-Jones (R Jones, 47), R McBryde (capt), S Gale (J Hyatt, 78), S Ford (C Wyatt, 55), M Voyle, P Morris, H Jenkins, I Jones.

Bridgend: A Durston; P Jones, G Thomas (capt; C Bradshaw, 73), D James (L Davies, 50), K Walker; M Lewis, J Graf; L Manning, C Ferris, D Francis, C Vogl, C Stephens, C Michaluk, A Williams, J Forster.

Referee: N Whitehouse (Swansea).

Swansea moved to within one point of Pontypridd at the top of the Heineken Welsh Division with a 50-12 success at Treorchy last night. Scott Gibbs grabbed two of Swansea's eight tries.