Fond Farewell Has More Fireworks Off Pitch Than on

After hosting nearly 2,600 matches, the most evocative club ground in Wales hosted its final 80 minutes last night before being turned into a housing estate. The game went the way of 78.5% of the rest, a home victory, but did not survive in the memory beyond the final whistle.

Bristol hardly made for worthy opponents: even at full strength they would have offered little in terms of creativity, and a largely reserve platoon barely mounted a meaningful attack.

The emotions of the crowds were stoked by a parade of former captains before the match, with 21 of the 23 survivors present; Peter Evans, who led the side for two seasons in the 1950s, was ill and Simon Easterby was leading the team against Bristol. Special cheers were reserved for Delme Thomas, the captain against the 1972 All Blacks, and Phil Bennett, the former Llanelli, Wales and Lions captain.

A presentation was made to Gareth Jenkins, the Scarlets' development director who, as a player from 1967 and then as coach, was involved in 1,196 matches combined for the Llanelli club and the region. No one personifies more the umbilical link between the town, the wider Carmarthenshire area and the rugby club but, even though Stradey was a stadium fit for the amateur era, it has held back the Scarlets in the professional age.

From the moment the full-back, Morgan Stoddart, gave the Scarlets the lead within two minutes of the start the outcome was never in doubt and the crowd, after a few early bursts of Sospan Fach, had little to get excited about. It was not until stoppage time in the opening half that the Scarlets scored their second try through Easterby, but it was always going to be a night when it was those who had come to watch who took center stage.

The match sold out weeks ago. "If only that were the case every week," said one of the many Llanelli legends on display last night, Derek Quinnell.

The Scarlets led 17-0 at the interval and maintained their dominance to the end. It was left to a former Bristol player, Rob Higgitt, to score the final try at the ground before the final final whistle gave the cue for the flowing of tears and ale.

"We wanted to do the place justice and not let all the emotion get to us," said Stephen Jones. "I think we did that."

Scarlets Stoddart; Higgitt, King, Evans (Davies, 61), M Jones (C Thomas, 70); S Jones, Martens; I Thomas, Owens (Rees, 52), Meeuws (John, 52), Cooper (D Jones, h-t), Day, N Thomas, Easterby (capt), Lyons.

Tries Stoddart, Easterby, Higgitt. Cons S Jones 3. Pens S Jones 2.

Bristol Elliott; Robinson, Eves, Fatialofa (Maggs, 58), Turner; Ashwin (Barden, 71), Thomas (Alford, 70); Irish, Linklater (Blaney, 61), Crompton (Bracken, 64), Sambucetti, Sidoli, Salter (capt), B Pennycook, Blowers (C Pennycook, 64).

Referee D Bodilly (Cardiff)

Attendance 10,800