By Zippy
October 9 2006

Review of the action in the Principality Welsh Premiership from Saturday 7th September. Bridgend and Ponty suffered crushing away defeats against Llanelli and Cross Keys respectively. For details read on

Llanelli 64 Bridgend 22

The Western Mail

LLANELLI moved off the foot of the table in spectacular fashion as they ran in nine tries in a 13-try thriller at a sparse Stradey Park, writes Mike Walters.

The armchair followers of the game missed thrilling rugby, red and yellow cards and some excellent tries from the home side.

Llanelli forwards coach Rob Appleyard saw a marked improvement in the standard of play.

"The win will create a more positive platform for challenges that lie ahead," he said. "We produced the goods on the field and had big performances from individuals as well as a collective determination to compete for the ball at the breakdown.

"We have high expectations from the squad and for the first time they gelled to show how much potential we have as a side.

"It was pleasing to see the team express themselves after the frustrations of the last few games."

Wing Craig Richards has returned to the league from Coventry and is terrorising defences again.

Four tries in the first three games had seen Richards head the try-scoring list and on his return from injury he crossed for a hat-trick as the Bridgend defence, a man short, could not cope.

The young Llanelli side only led 12-7 when Bridgend centre Leighton Thomas saw the red mist after 25 minutes to land a punch which Joe Calzaghe would have been proud of on impressive 17-year-old Llanelli full-back Daniel Evans.

Seven tries came the way of the home side from that moment but, to their credit, Bridgend crossed for three of their own while down to 14 men to indicate perhaps that with a full complement it could have been a different story.

Llanelli	64 - 22 (26 - 7)	Bridgend
Tries: K Owens, D Evans, A Jenkins, C Richards 3, O Snyman, L Davies, J Edwards		Tries: C Tossell, A Williams, A Whitney, D Simpson
Pens: G Bowen
Cons: G Bowen 8		Cons: G David

Cross Keys Pontypridd 6

The Western Mail

Cross Keys defied spells with only 13 men to demolish Pontypridd on points and give an even territorial game a lop-sided scoreline at Pandy Park, writes Chris Smart.

Cup holders Pontypridd controlled most of the first half, but for all their possession could not pierce a rock solid defence.

Keys got the half's only try when Pontypridd flanker Lee Evans lost possession inside the Keys 22, and the home side broke away for right wing David James to run 80 metres before putting centre Gareth Chapman over.

Fly-half Scott Mitchell converted the l5th- minute score and after Pontypridd full-back Jason Pocock had reduced the gap with a penalty, Mitchell's penalty made it 10-3 at the interval.

Pocock reduced the arrears again with his second penalty after 43 minutes.

But Keys then rocked Ponty with two more sucker blows, hooker Gary Horrigan taking a return ball thrown to Mark Curtis at the front of the lineout to run 22 metres to score before Chapman intercepted to put James over for Mitchell to convert.

Keys had prop Richard Cornock and replacement flanker Wayne Murphy sin- binned for professional fouls and were down to 13 men for a spell only for Pontypridd replacement prop Stuart Williams to also see yellow for fighting at a free for all.

But for all their pressure, Pontypridd could find no way through, even against depleted opponents.

And after another Mitchell penalty, Horrigan was driven over for his second try before James intercepted to run 60 metres for his second in injury time, Mitchell converting both for an unlikely scoreline.

Cross Keys	39 - 6 (10 - 3)	Pontypridd
Tries: G Chapman, G Horrigan 2, D James 2, S Mitchell
Pens: S Mitchell		Pens: J Pocock 2
Cons: S Mitchell 3

Welsh Premiership table

07 October 2006   Team P W D L F A PTS 1 Neath 6 4 1 1 210 127 13 2 Aberavon 6 4 0 2 137 128 12 3 Newport 6 4 0 2 134 97 12 4 Ebbw Vale 6 3 1 2 111 115 10 5 Cardiff 6 3 0 3 152 145 9 6 Swansea 6 3 0 3 161 187 9 7 Cross Keys 6 3 0 3 141 116 9 8 Pontypridd 6 3 0 3 129 174 9 9 Llandovery 6 3 0 3 126 129 9 10 Bedwas 6 3 0 3 106 125 9 11 Llanelli 6 2 0 4 151 144 6 12 Glamorgan Wanderers 6 2 0 4 137 169 6 13 Bridgend 6 2 0 4 133 158 6 14 Maesteg 6 2 0 4 131 145 6