BONUS POINT SCARLETS MAKE IT SIX FROM SIX

by Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

With a 100% record ensuring that the Scarlets remain sitting pretty at the top of the Guinness Premiership,  the home team were aiming to make it six from six against the Newport Gwent Dragons in the first derby match of the season.

An historic night for the West Wales region as Kiwi Regan King welcomes his son Jacob Cowley to the Scarlets resulting in it being the first time that a father and son play in the same team.

As the drizzle descended on Parc y Scarlets, both teams took to the pitch for what started out as a typical derby game, with the majority of play being around the half way area.

It took the Scarlets all of 10 minutes, and the first real attack of the game for the home team to cross the whitewash, with James ‘Cubby’ Davies crossing in the corner. Aled Thomas added the conversion to give the men in Scarlet an early 7 point to 0 advantage.

An error at the line-out from the visitors offered the Scarlets a chance to attack once more, however, the slippery conditions saw the ball spill forward.

A superb break from James Davies saw the Scarlets easily cross the gain-line and back into the Dragons 22, keeping posession before veteran Prop, Phil John, in his 16^th year with the club, crossed the whitewash in the corner after finding himself out on the Wing! Thomas missed the tricky touchline conversion, however the home team extended their lead to 12 points to 0.

The Dragons were able to cut the defecit with an easy penalty kicked by their Full Back Jason Tovey to bring the score line to 12 points to 3.

Another attack saw the home team back in the Dragons’ 22 once more, but again conditions resulted in the ball spilling forward relieving the pressure on the visitors as they were able to clear their lines, though somewhat temporarilly.

Unfortunately, for once the hands of the King let him down as he chased a chip kick, but he was unable to gather the ball for what would have been a certain 7 pointer. Instead, it was the visitors that were offered the opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but despite the accuracy, the post saved the day for the Scarlets as the Dragons failed to narrow the gap.

A silly wide pass from the Scarlets saw Tovey gather and stroll in unopposed for the Dragons’ first try of the evening. He was unable to covert his own try, however, completely against the run of play, the Dragons were less than a try behind – 12 points to 8 as half time approached.

Demonstrating their character, the home team were immediately back on the attack, though it may have been more beneficial to keep the ball in hand rather than offer possesion back to the Dragons, particularly with Centre, former Scarlet Adam Warren breaking through which would have given the Dragons the lead at the half time. Fortunately, the Scarlets defence held firm at the score remained Scarlets 12 – Dragons 8 at the interval.

The Scarlets started the second half with a new Half Back pairing and an intent to attack. Wing Tom Williams, brother of Welsh International Lloyd Williams, who is currently on loan with the region powered his way towards the try line, only to be beaten by the touch line. Despite this, the Scarlets remained in the oppostition 22 and kept the ball among the forwards as they worked through the phases.

The home team were offered some reward for their efforts with an easy penalty for Full Back Aled Thomas to give the Scarlets a 15 point to 8 lead. This could have been further extended just seconds later, however a forward pass denied Aled Davies a certain try under the posts.

Another penalty for a high tackle on Regan King finally saw tempers fray. This resulted in the Dragons  losing Adam Hughes to the sin bin for the tackle and giving the home team both a man advantage and a penalty which they chose to kick for the corner.
A 14 man rolling mall made it impossible for the Dragons to defend their line and it was Phil John that was able to claim his second try of the evening as he emerged from under his team! Thomas was unable to add the conversion but the Scarlets entered the final quarter with a 20 point to 8 advantage.

The donimation of the forwards was certainly evident as the home team finally managed to secure a bonus point. Following an immense effort James Davies put in another man of the match performance as he claimed his second try of the game. Again, the conversion was missed but the Scarlets lead was now 25 points to 8.

And then, history was made….not only did Jacob Cowley make his first appearance for the Scarlets, but with Parkes switiching to the Wing, he lined up alongside his father in the Centre as the crowd waited in aniticipation to see if he had inherited the mercurial hands of Daddy King.

A try from the Dragons replacement Sarel Pretorius kept the visitors in touch with the Scarlets, as Tovey’s conversion brought the score line to 25 points to 15. The Full Back was offered the chance to put further pressure on the Scarlets soon after but his attempt was wide of the posts.

It wasn’t the exciting ending of last week’s game and there’s still room for improvement, but with a final score of 25 points to 15, the Scarlets, after 6 rounds, remain top of the Guinness Pro 12, the only team who are able to boast a 100% record.

Next Friday, the region is on the road as they travel to Leinster, kick off is 7.35pm.