CAERPHILLY 33 LLANELLI 20 (Ht 10-8)
Mark Ring’s confident Caerphilly side surprised the starless Scarlets with a 13-point victory at Virginia Park in the Welsh Premiership…
It was a wet and windy Friday night in Wales, the conditions did enough to deter the fans, but not the home side, who earned their second win of this campaign.
Despite missing 10 of their established stars, the Scarlets seemed the strongest side on paper.
But as people form Caerphilly will tell you ‘You don’t play an paper – you play on grass!’
And it was Caerphilly who played most of the rugby to produce a win that challenges the current Welsh club rugby hierarchy
The home side produced four tries in a confident display. It took just five minutes for Caerphilly to register the first try of the evening, wing Owain Ashman crossing.
And it wasn’t long before fullback Sione Tuipolutu scored the second.
And when Llanelli outside-half Neil Boobyer powered through tackling arms to cross in the corner, the few fans that braved the elements had been treated to three tries in the opening fifteen minutes.
But with a swirling wind around Virginia Park meant none were converted to leave the score at 10-5 to the home side.
When Scarlets’ fullback Barry Davies was successful with a penalty goal in front of the posts the half-time gap was just two points at 10-8.
But Caerphilly were the hungrier side after the break, and their efforts were rewarded with points.
Two second-half scores from veteran wing Geraint Lewis, and a brace of penalty goals from outside half Luke Richards gave the home side an unbeatable advantage.
A late Llanelli rally saw discarded Wales international duo Mark Jones and Leigh Davies scoring tries, but the home side had done enough to take the points.
Scorers
Caerphilly Tries: O Ashman, S Tuipolutu, G Lewis (2) Cons: L Richards (2) Pens: Richards (3)
Llanelli Tries: N Boobyer, M Jones, L Davies Con: B Davies Pen: Davies
Teams
Caerphilly: S Tuipolutu; O Ashman, R Boobyer, S Cox, G Lewis; L Richards, A Chilten; L Manning, F Vunipola, D Sweet, D Davies, P Jones, A Williams, S Grainger, M Workman
Replacments: F McGouglhan, J Murphy, G Liddon, C Ferris, R Bilton, N Watkins, J El Abd.
Llanelli: B Davies; M Jones, M Cardey, L Davies, G Evans; N Boobyer, R Walters; P John, M Thomas, J Davies, V Cooper (capt), P Clapham, C Wyatt, D Hodges, I Boobyer.
Replacements: A Gravell, D Maddocks, L Gross, G Williams, Adrian Williams, T Selley, W Proctor.
