Pontypridd 18-24 Llanelli

The Play-Off Final got off to an intense start, played out in front of a 4,000 plus crowd at Sardis Road, and promising to live up to expectations.

It was Llanelli who made the better of things early on, recycling effectively and rewarded as full back Dan Newton cut through for a try, converted by outside half Steve Shingler with just four minutes gone. Ponty were suffering from a malfunctioning line-out, and despite their attempts to up the tempo of the game, were struggling to make an impact, eventually settling for a Simon Humberstone penalty to open their account.

Llanelli responded with a series of power drives, and with Ponty edging the set scrums, a competitive contest was in the offing. Having scuffed an earlier attempt, Humberstone made amends by stroking over a second penalty, but Llanelli responding with a penalty of their own converted by Shingler.

Humberstone was again wide of the mark with a kick at goal, and with Ponty making errors, failing to capitalise on their penalty opportunities as Llanelli showed a tendency to infringe.

A turning point in the game occurred as Ponty pressed forward, but flanker Wayne O’Connor sent off for dangerous use of the knee. Llanelli immediately utilised their extra man, working centre Nic Reynolds into an overlap to score a try, converted by Shingler.

Llanelli wing Dale Ford was yellow carded for impeding, but Humberstone’s missed penalty summing up the tale of the first half for Ponty, going in at the interval trailing by 6pts to 17.

Ponty now needed a huge response to salvage the game, and showed up well as wing Gareth Wyatt chased a cross kick, going close to scoring. The home team however continued to commit errors, and as Llanelli hooker Craig Hawkins was sin-binned, again failed to capitalise as Humberstone pulled wide the resultant penalty. Despite their constant struggle to gain a platform from the line out, Ponty manufactured a surge into the visitors’ twenty-two, but up against an aggressive Llanelli defence, and also failing to hold on to the ball at critical times.

The pendulum swung once more in Llanelli’s favour as winger Lee Williams rounded off an opportunist kick and chase foray with another try, converted by Shingler with fifty-eight minutes gone. The pattern of the game was for Ponty to resolutely advance, only to loose possession and allow Llanelli to counter at pace.

The home team finally powered into their opponents’ twenty-two, replacement hooker Huw Dowden touching down following a drive to the line wide out. Ponty now found a fresh impetus late in the game, and Llanelli further penalised as outside half Shingler and replacement hooker Rhys Lawrence were both sin-binned. Ponty continued to press forwards, replacement scrum half Downes sniping over for a try, converted by replacement outside half Dean Gunter.

Deep into injury time Ponty attempted to keep the ball alive, attacking from deep in a vain hope of scoring a crucial match winning try. Llanelli stood firm, tackling hard, scavenging for possession and holding out for victory by 18pts to 24.

Ironically it was to the echo of the regional chant “Scarlets” that Llanelli lifted the Premiership trophy for the 2010 – 2011 season, and to an ovation from their loyal supporters that Ponty left the field, denied the league crown that they had battled long and hard to attain.

Pontypridd:

15.Adam Thomas (Lewis Williams). 14.Gareth Wyatt. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Owen Williams. 10.Simon Humberstone (Dean Gunter). 9.Lewis Jones (Rhys Downes).

1.Stuart Williams (Ryan Harford). 2.Kristian Dacey (Huw Dowden). 3.Ryan Harford (Sam Hobbs). 4.Craig Locke (Cory Hill). 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Darren Waters (Ed Siggery). 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.

“Golden Bob” man of the match – Darren Waters

Scorers: