Llanelli hoping history can repeat itself

Welsh Premiership play-off final preview

Pontypridd v Llanelli, Sardis Road, Friday, 7.35pm

BILL Murray’s character eventually got to like Groundhog Day in the 1990s film of the same name.

However, weatherman Phil Connors first had to live through day after day of frustration in the town of Punxsutawney, PA.

If they lose the Welsh Premiership play-off final to Llanelli on Friday night, Pontypridd’s personnel will probably start to feel a bit like the Channel 9 Pittsburgh forecaster.

This time last year the Valley Commandos went into the corresponding clash with the Turks at their Sardis Road home – also the venue for Friday’s encounter – still jubilant having beaten Aberavon to lift the Swalec Cup.

However, they were brought crashing down to earth in the Premiership finale by a Llanelli side boosted by the selection of a collection of players with regional experience.

Friday’s visitors to the House of Pain have the chance to repeat that 24-18 success of 12 months ago, and they looked in ominous form towards the end of the semi-final victory over Aberavon last Saturday.

Pontypridd, who also reached the Swalec Cup final this year before losing to Cross Keys, will need to lift themselves one last time if they are to get anything tangible from this season.

They did finish top of the Premiership table again but will need to be on the ball if they don’t want to spend all of Friday night seeing shadows – a sign of six more weeks of winter according to famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.

Unlike 2011, when Llanelli ended the campaign 16 points behind Pontypridd, this season saw the sides separated by just two and each beat the other when they had home advantage last autumn, Pontypridd 29-16 at Sardis Road on October 1 and Llanelli 24-16 at Parc y Scarlets on November 26.

The Swalec Cup final aside, Pontypridd have won their last six while the triumph against Aberavon last weekend was Llanelli’s seventh in a row. And for Scarlets director of rugby Anthony Buchanan, his players are ready to go to the well one last time.

“We have a great team spirit in this squad,” he said. “If there’s one thing you need at Sardis Road, it’s team spirit, and I’m sure our players will have it in buckets.

“Pontypridd are a difficult team to play against, with top players and excellent coaches. It’s a tough place to go, but we’re looking forward to it and we’re full of confidence.”

He added: “Pontypridd have won the league and we congratulate them on that, but this is a play-off challenge we want to win. We went to Sardis Road and won last year, and it wasn’t a very pleasant experience.

“Pontypridd were the champions by some distance last season, but the Premiership has been much closer this time. Will it make us champions if we win? No. But it will be more pleasing because the gap is so much smaller this time.”

Full-back Jordan Williams starred against the Wizards in the semi-final as his side ran in some delectable tries towards the end of the match. And given Pontypridd’s disappointment at the Millennium Stadium, as well as what happened last season, Llanelli are arguably the marginal favourites this time around.

“If someone had offered us the chance to be in the play-off final at the start of the season, we would have been delighted, added Buchanan. We had a lot of new coaches and young players coming through, and we’re very pleased with how they have progressed.

“They have come into an environment where we have a very solid backbone of players. The likes of Justin James and Adam Powell are the experienced heads, the unsung heroes of the squad. They will play anywhere for you and give their all every time.

“When the young players come up from the academy, that rubs off on them and it makes for an excellent working environment.”

Pontypridd head coach Dale McIntosh is under no illusion how important this game is, even going as far as labelling it as “probably the most crucial 80 minutes for Ponty in the semi-pro era”.

He will have to pick his players up from the setback against Cross Keys and only needs to remind his squad of Llanelli’s visit last May to get them up for this one.

“We will need to fly into Llanelli with no holds barred, that must be our response to last week’s cup final defeat,” he said. “Llanelli are looking sharp at the end of the season and will provide us with a huge challenge.

“I hope that there will be a big turnout for the game and that our supporters can maintain their faith in us as players and coaches. It should be a great spectacle between two teams committed to attacking rugby and a great occasion to end the season.

“We can only give a commitment as a squad that we will turn up and give everything for the club jersey and for the club support.”

David's Williams's prediction - Llanelli by seven points