Keys fail to unlock defence in deluge

CROSS Keys stayed firmly in the bottom half of the Principality Premiership as Llanelli earned a share of the spoils at a rain-soaked Pandy Park on Friday evening.

Morgan Stoddart’s Keys ended a run of six straight defeats with a draw, but this was no classic as torrential downpours ensured there was just a try apiece for either side to entertain the fans.

Taylor Davies opened the scoring for Llanelli with an early 11thminute effort, but Dylan Fidler’s second-half try ensured both teams ended with two points apiece.

Heavy rain saw a torrent of water flood the touchline and a sodden pitch meant only ten points were scored over the course of 80 minutes.

Llanelli started well and went ahead through Davies. The visitors threw into the line-out, got an impressive rolling maul going, and Davies was the beneficiary as he emerged from a pile of bodies.

The conversion – crucially – was missed by Ioan Hughes.

The ball was like a bar of soap and although Keys dominated possession and territory, the hosts couldn’t turn their pressure into points as they went into the break 5-0 down.

Conditions improved for the second period with the rain stopping, but the damage had already been done to the Pandy Park surface.

Llanelli had their backs to the wall, but Hughes missed a penalty and team-mate Declan Hughes also failed to convert two attempts of his own.

Needless to say, had the visitors kicked their goals, they would have won.

But Fidler made them pay by diving in at the corner and Jason Tovey continued an off-night for the kickers as his attempt at what would have been a match-winning conversion fell short of the posts. Star man Taylor Davies - Llanelli