RUSTY Cross Keys were hit for six at Parc y Scarlets as they crashed to a heavy defeat against Llanelli in the Principality Premiership, writes Carl Field.

Greg Woods’ side never got going in this one and looked every bit a side who were playing their first Premiership match since December 5.

It was an afternoon to forget for the visitors against a Llanelli side who bossed the contest from start to finish, while this defeat for Keys also ended their run of 10 matches without defeat in the league.

Keys put 58 points on Llanelli and scored eight tries when the sides last met at Pandy Park back in September, but there was never going to be a repeat of that this time around.

Having dominated proceedings early on, it was no surprise when Llanelli did open the scoring in the 20th minute when a good move involving wing Dion Jones and Gareth Walters sent hooker Torin Myhill over for a try, with fly-half Walters adding the extras.

That brought a brief response from Keys, who were level four minutes later when they were awarded a penalty try – an automatic eight points – after the hosts pulled down a driving maul.

But the home side restored their lead five minutes before the break when No.8 Trystan Lloyd forced his way over for try number two, although this time Walters couldn’t convert.

And, firmly in the ascendency, Llanelli scored their third try right on the stroke of half time when Myhill crashed over for his second try of the afternoon, with Walters adding the extras, to make it 22-8 at the turnaround.

Llanelli continued where they left off by scoring their bonus-point winning fourth try three minutes after the re-start with full-back Steff Evans dancing through to the line and Walters again converting.

And four became five seven minutes later when centre Nathan Edwards offloaded to wing Ryan Davies who charged over the line, with Walters adding his fourth conversion.

Replacement back-row Tom Lampard scored a second Keys try just past the hour mark before Walters booted a penalty for the hosts.

Replacement Shaun Pearce rounded off the win by scoring his side’s sixth try, again converted, a minute from time, before replacement Owain Leonard scored a consolation third try for Keys with the last move of the match.

Scorers: Llanelli – Tries: T Myhill (2), T Lloyd, S Evans, R Davies, S Pearce; Cons: G Walters (5); Pen: G Walters.

Cross Keys – Tries: Penalty try, T Lampard, O Leonard; Con: J Prosser.

Llanelli: S Evans; D Jones, N Edwards (J Lewis 57), S Hughes, R Davies (S Pearce 63); G Walters, J Guy (G Davies 74); R Thomas (L Puckett 72), T Myhill (G George 58), G Havard (T Kaijaks 41), A Powell (capt), C Long, N Hart, O Morgan (J Davies 66), T Lloyd (J Payne 52).

Cross Keys: O Howe (O Leonard 61); P Uhi (M Powell 66), L Andrews (capt), P Williams, N Trowbridge; J Prosser, J Leadbeater (L Montague 61); L Garrett (A Lott 57), D Hughes (E Shipp 66), R Cornock (G Carpenter 57), D Hodge (J Skinner 52), S Williams, I Jones, S Matthews (T Lampard 52), A Powell.

Referee: Simon Rees (WRU)  Keys star man: Tom Lampard