Craig
Hawkins ran out at Parc y Scarlets in a Llanelli jersey for the final time last
night, as the hooker brought the curtain down on his glittering career with
victory over Pontypridd in the Principality Premiership.
With
little riding on the match for either side - Llanelli unable to finish any
higher than fifth and Ponty already assured of top spot - and with a Swalec Cup
final on Sunday to think about, Paul John made a raft of changes to the one
that agonisingly lost out in the British and Irish Cup semi at the weekend.
Llanelli’s
Director of Rugby Anthony Buchanan talked before the match of giving Hawkins a
fitting send off and the hosts took heed as they dominated the opening half.
Both
sides were intent on running the ball but it was Llanelli’s supremacy up front
that provided the first points. A line-out from eight metres out saw the hosts
drive over, with man of the moment Hawkins emerging with the ball and a smile
as referee Neil Hennessy awarded the try. Fly-half Josh Lewis added the tricky
extras.
The
hosts continued to have all the territory and possession with flanker Daniel
Thomas, who is also moving on at the end of this season, thriving in the loose.
Llanelli were guilty of butchering several chances with Justin James and Lewis
Rawlins the culprits.
However,
a penalty from Lewis just before the interval extended Llanelli’s lead to 10-0
at half time.
Going
into the match Llanelli had only won one of their last six encounters, a run of
form that has seen them miss out on the Premiership play-offs, but they
continued to dictate after the break.
And
they extended their lead ten minutes into the second-half, a line-out in the
Ponty 22 saw the ball move swiftly off the top to Dafydd Lewis off his wing,
and the speedster cut the visitors' defence to go beneath the sticks. Lewis
slotted the simplest of conversions.
The
score seemed to wake the reigning Premiership champions from their slumber when
they made their first real foray into Llanelli territory that saw them come
away with a try. A series of successive penalties pushed Ponty deep into the
Llanelli 22 and they produced a carbon copy of Llanelli’s first score to drive
over out-wide, with No. 8 Owen Sheppeard claiming the touchdown.
Any
sign of a revival was quickly quashed by Buchanan’s troops-replacement James
Ball outpaced the Ponty cover defence to reach a hack on before showing great
footballing skills and gather the ball for a sublime score.
With
six minutes remaining, Hawkins left to a fitting ovation and the hosts wrapped
up victory with their fourth try. Great vision from Lewis in mid-field saw the
fly-half produce a perfectly judged cross-field kick that landed in the arms of
replacement winger Dion Jones who finished well.
The
result sees Llanelli end their campaign on a high, despite a season of mixed
fortunes, while Pontypridd won’t care too much about the result with the chance
of a consecutive League and Cup double well within their grasp.
Llanelli:Tries:Craig Hawkins 10, Dafydd Lewis 49, James Ball 64, Dion Jones 78; Cons: Josh Lewis 10, 49, 64, Pens: J Lewis 37.
Pontypridd: Try: Owen Sheppeard 63:
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