Swalec Cup

Quarter-final

Pontypridd 36 Llandovery 0

Llandovery’s hopes of a return to the Millennium Stadium were shattered by a Pontypridd side better in all departments, writes Huw S Thomas.

It was a Swalec Cup quarter-final the Drovers - who lifted the trophy in 2007 - will want to forget after being completely outplayed in the second half, going down to a six tries to nil defeat at the hands of the defending champions.

On this form Ponty will be warm favourites to win their fourth final in just five years and their seventh overall.

The Drovers will have to pick themselves off the floor before Sunday's televised Premiership game against Carmarthen Quins who are in the semi finals of the Swalec Cup after Saturday's win over Newport.

One thing they will certainly need to do is tighten up their poor discipline which saw yellow cards for prop Wyn Jones, flanker Shaun Miles (within a minute of each other) and Matthew Harbut.

It is hard enough to take on Pontypridd with 15 men on the field but reduced to 13 on a heavy, boggy field the task became well nigh impossible.

There was also a worrying lack of thrust behind the scrum after the forwards had worked hard under skipper Phil Day to gain the lion's share of possession and territory in the first half.

It was in direct contrast to the powerful play and barnstorming runs of Dafydd Lockyer and Aled Summerhill – arguably the best centre pairing in the Premiership

Ponty on the other hand had no more than three chances to score tries in the first half and converted two - through Summerhill and a penalty try at a maul.

It was all Ponty for all but the last five minutes of the game with tries from wing Dale Stuckey, replacement Garyn Smith, prop James Howe and Number 8 Dan Godfrey taking them clear 36-0.

One crumb of comfort for the Drovers was their unexpectedly strong and brave finish when the Ponty defence all but succumbed to constant attack.

Particularly prominent for the Drovers was replacement Andrew Green - the ex-Brynaman flanker - who made hard yards up to the Ponty posts and looked a player of much promise.

Centre Rhodri Jones broke clear only to be caught from behind by flanker Rhys Shellard before waves of close range attacks were repulsed by the cup holders.