The sun set over Llanelli last night, a brilliant sun leaving streaks of pink — oh, let’s stretch a point and call them scarlet — as Stradey Park played out the last of more than 2,500 games over 129 years at one of the most famous club venues, not just in Wales or Britain but in the world.

The pilgrims walked up Maes-y Coed for the final time, just under 11,000 of them now rather than the 28,000 said to have watched Llanelli beat New Zealand 36 years ago. A parade of former captains, 21 of the 23 still living, received the plaudits of a packed house and Bristol, a touch modestly, joined in the last rites before the removal next month to the brand new Parc y Scarlets on the east side of town.

In 1997, two years into the professional era, Llanelli were forced to sell their ground to the Welsh Rugby Union such were their financial difficulties. Three years ago they were able to buy it back but, earlier this season, the town’s name was officially dropped from what is now one of the four Welsh regions and there is general agreement that more modern accommodation is required.

The teams took the field to the strains of Dafydd Iwan’s Yma o hyd — “Still here” — but from now on, they will not be. Still, they closed so lengthy a chapter with victory in this EDF Energy Cup pool match, a win needed not only for history’s sake but to give the Scarlets much-needed impetus when their Magners League campaign recommences.

Appropriate it may have been for a club from the West Country, who have such strong links with Wales, to be the visiting team on such an historic night but the ambitions of Bristol, who first played Llanelli in 1902, were no higher than to back up last week’s performance in the European Challenge Cup. That brought them their first win of the season, but they are unlikely to emerge from pool D and, within three minutes, their task became even harder.

Two defenders, Andrew Blowers and Junior Fatialofa, lost their footing on a slippery surface, leaving Regan King with a yawning gap that the centre, one of five non-Welshmen in the Scarlets side, took with ease before sending Morgan Stoddart over the line for the first try.

Stoddard was one of three national squad members on view in front of a pensive Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, who will have his players to train on the first three days of next week, but only after a High Court injunction enforced the existing player-release agreement between the WRU and the four regions.

Stephen Jones, who made his first appearance for Llanelli against Bristol in 1996, added three points when the Scarlets, having studiously avoided penalty attempts, decided that it was time to move the scoreboard. But Bristol made no concessions to the occasion until, having held a brilliant thrust by Mark Jones and a close-range drive by Ken Owens, they allowed Simon Easterby to crawl over.

There was little prospect of Bristol recovering ground lost in the first half but, try as they might, the Scarlets could not crack the defence. Rob Higgitt was denied a try in the corner against his former club, Dafydd Jones was over but brought back for a knock-on.

Stephen Jones chipped over a close-range penalty but as the game went into the final quarter, the Welsh commitment to running rugby gained its reward. Stoddart joined a big blind side to give Higgitt the try that turned out to be the last at Stradey. Mark Jones was all but over before departing with a damaged knee, leaving the Scarlets to contest leadership of the pool with Northampton before settling into their new home.

Scorers: Scarlets: Tries: Stoddard (3min), Easterby (37), Higgitt (63). Conversions: S Jones 3. Penalty goals: S Jones 2 (15, 49).

Scoring sequence (Scarlets first): 7-0, 10-0, 17-0 (half-time), 20-0, 27-0.