LLANELLI head of rugby Anthony Buchanan has described their first-half performance in the 35-29 Swalec Cup defeat by Cardiff as the worst he has ever seen from his side.

The third-round loss saw Llanelli exit in the third round and, following their British and Irish Cup defeat by Cross Keys last month, the Principality Premiership is now their only hope of winning a trophy this season.

Coincidentally, Keys will be Llanelli's opponents when they return to league action on Saturday, looking to continue their climb up the Premiership table.

Sixth-placed Llanelli trail leaders Llandovery by eight points but with three games in hand and, with Keys close behind in seventh, Buchanan's men can ill afford another slip-up this weekend.

"The first-half performances against Cardiff was the worst rugby I have seen from us since I joined Llanelli," said Buchanan. "Cup games are a one-off occasion, and we were simply not good enough.

"We got what we deserved.

"We're bitterly disappointed. We let ourselves down and we let the club down as well.

"Cardiff didn't even have to play that well. We beat ourselves.

"It came as a shock. We had a very good side out there, but we just didn't apply ourselves properly.

"The scrum cost us dearly, conceding a penalty try and 16 points overall from weak scrums.

"It is something we will need to put right together. We're an honest group, and we're going to have to sit down and decide how we're going to progress."

After picking through the debris of the defeat at the Arms Park, Llanelli travel to Pandy Park with their sights set on closing the gap on league leaders Llandovery.

"There's a lot of rugby left to be played this season," said Buchanan.

"We're out of both cups now, so this is an opportunity to concentrate on the league.

"I think Cross Keys are an improving team who have quite a lot to prove.

"Llanelli are a club with a proud history and other sides will target us as a team they'll want to beat.

"It will be the same on Saturday, and Keys will really want to beat us."

As reigning champions, Llanelli are used to being a prized scalp for other sides.

Keys will be hoping for a repeat of their British and Irish Cup triumph, and Buchanan has warned his players they must up their game.

"We have to finish the season on a high," he added.

"As a team, we must realise that we need to take on more responsibility. We must be more focused than we were against Cardiff.

"We need to concentrate on the league and I think we have a great chance of challenging for the title."

DAFYDD PRITCHARD