CROSS Keys suffered a hammer blow in their bid to beat the drop in the Principality Premiership after losing 53-12 at fellow strugglers Llanelli, writes Guto Davies.

Keys were out to end a sequence of four defeats which had left them stranded in the drop zone, one point behind hosts Llanelli.

With so much at stake the Gwent visitors failed to step up to the mark, their losing run extended with a heavy 53pts to 12 reverse.

Llanelli put early tempo into their play, making the most of a penalty advantage to launch a line-out drive over the whitewash, prop Simon Gardiner claiming the try. The home team were forcing turnovers and capitalising on the Keys’ errors, going further ahead as no9 Declan Smith sniped over from an attacking scrum. Whatever periods of possession Cross Keys enjoyed came to nothing, then inflicting further self-harm as scrum half Dan Babos threw a wild pass, his opposite number Smith pouncing for a try.

The Llanelli scrum was in forward gear and pressure was turned into points as prop Rhys Fawcett barged over for the bonus point try which Smith converted. It was past the half hour mark before the Keys made any meaningful impression, firstly through a Srdan Majkic break, then outside half Carwyn Penny finding scrum half Babos in support to score a try which Penny converted from in front of the posts. It was Llanelli however who ended the first half on the attack, again turning over possession for centre Ryan Davies to cruise in for a try converted by Smith to post an interval lead of 29pts to 7.

The home team showed a greater cutting edge into the second period, working off a strong set piece platform, allowing replacement Ioan Hughes to launch an opportunist chip kick, Ryan Davies crossing for another try. Keys were already chasing the game, unable to threaten despite enjoying periods of possession in what was becoming a scrappy encounter. Llanelli launched a power scrum to the line but failed to touch down, sustained pressure however paying dividends as Ryan Davies crossed for his hat-trick try, converted by Hughes.

The home lead was extended as replacement Leon Randell crossed following a break from winger Liam Hutchins, only for Cross Keys to strike back as wing Iwan Burgwin intercepted to score a consolation try out wide. Fittingly, following a dominant display and again working off a power scrum, it was Llanelli who had the last word, replacement Joel James touching down and Ioan Hughes converting to seal the big win.

Llanelli: 15.Llew Smith (Leon Randell). 14.Kalum Evans(Ioan Hughes). 13.Ryan Davies. 12.Jonny Davies – cpt. 11.Liam Hutchins. 10.Steff Hughes. 9.Declan Smith (Gareth George).

1.Rhys Fawcett (Ryan Thomas). 2.Taylor Davies (Greg George). 3.Simon Gardiner (Craig Thomas). 4.Chris Long. 5.Tom Price (Ed Couzens). 6.Joe Miles. 7.Ellis Thomas. 8.Elliot Rees (Joel James).

Scorers: Tries: Simon Gardiner; Declan Smith (2); Rhys Fawcwtt; Ryan Davies (3); Leon Randell; Joel James.

Cons: Declan Smith (2); Ioan Hughes (2) Cross Keys: 15.Leon Andrews (Iwan Burgwin). 14.Rory Budina. 13.Srdan Majkic. 12.Tiaan Loots (Corey Nicholls). 11.Wes Cunliffe. 10.Carwyn Penny. 9.Dan Babos (Josh Guy).

1.Richard Cornock (Scott Hoskins). 2.Rhydian Jenkins (Will Griffiths). 3.Scott Evans (Gwesyn Price-Jones). 4.Scott Andrews (Tom Lampard). 5.Damian Welch – cpt (Joe Thomas). 6.Elis Hopkins. 7.Garin Price. 8.Ieuan Jones.

Scorers: Tries: Dan Babos; Iwan Burgwin.

Con: Carwyn Penny.