‘WELSHMAN’ JONNY F. SCORES BONUS POINT TRY TO SEAL EUROPEAN VICTORY OVER TREVISO

  

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

 

 

It wasn’t the best game of rugby, but the Scarlets will be making the journey home from Italy , weather permitting, safe in the knowledge that it’s a case of job done, as they secured another 5 points from this round of the Heineken Cup.

This was certainly a game of two halves, with the Scarlets being the stronger in the first half, demonstrating their creative rugby, but the second half it was Treviso who had the majority of the possession, keeping the ball tight among the forwards.

After leaving behind the snow in Wales, where the majority of weekend sporting fixtures were disrupted, the squad woke up to more snow out in Italy and the game was in doubt, however, thanks to the hard work of the Italian ground staff, a pitch inspection this morning confirmed that the show would go on!

The Scarlets couldn’t have asked for a worse possible start to the game which saw the home team offered a penalty kick within the first minute. Treviso Outside Half, De Waal made no mistake with his effort, giving the home team a lead of 3 points to 0.

The visitors were soon back in attack though, inching their way into the opposition 22, working through the phases, but unfortunately, they couldn’t turn possession into points before Treviso hacked through to find their way back in the Scarlets’ half.

It was close on the 10 minute mark that brought the first points of the game for the Scarlets when Treviso were penalised for holding on. Outside Half Rhys Priestland was successful with his kick to bring the score to 3 points all.

One major improvement from last week’s game was the Scarlets’ defence. Despite Treviso attacking well, they found it difficult to break through the line of Scarlet ahead of them, and were soon forced into making errors. Treviso fought back with a great run from Maddock following an interception of Tavis Knoyle’s pass, but another Priestland penalty saw the men in Scarlet taking the lead for the first time, 6 points to 3.

Again, Treviso went on the attack, but once again the Scarlets’ defence not only held firm, but kept the home team in their own half. The Scarlets’ own attack came in the shape of Morgan Stoddart, who raced through, but a slight over-complicating of things again brought no rewards for all the hard work.

It was Dominic Day who finally got the first try of the match, following some good forward play upfield. Priestland was successful with his third kick, to bring the score to 13 points to 3.

Day’s try fuelled the voices of the travelling fans who had braved the elements to make the trip to the Stadio Monigo, with shouts of ‘Scarlets, Scarlets’ filling the stadium.

Treviso didn’t make things easy for the Scarlets though, and it was often their own errors that were their own worst enemies, with knock-ons and passes not going to hand.

It was the Scarlets who scored try number 2, with Full Back Dan Newton crossing following a period of excellent passing from the Scarlets. Unfortunately, this time, Priestland was unable to add the extras, but the score was a far healthier, 18 points to 3, with half time looming.

However, it was Treviso who ensured they had the last points of the half as they scored a try following a rolling maul, from deep in their own 22, the Scarlets just had no answer and no way to stop Flanker Barbieri crossing the line. De Waal’s conversion brought the half time score to 18 points to 10 to the visitors.

This was worrying times for the Scarlets though as thoughts turned back to that very first Magners League match in early September, where they saw their 22 point to 9 lead disappear, losing 34 point to 28.

It was hoped that lessons had been learnt from not only that match, but also last week’s game, where Treviso had been allowed back into the game.

Despite the blue skies and the sun beating down, the players were forced to play in bitterly cold temperatures, and cold fingers saw the basic errors creep in once again with captain for the day, Johnathan Edwards knocking on following his interception.

The forwards continued the attack before Dan Newton increased the Scarlets’ lead to 21 points to 10 as he took over the kicking duties following Rhys Priestland suffering a minor knock.

Good defence from Dominic Day and Hooker Ken Owens denied Treviso a second try as the Italians demonstrated their forward power with a series of rolling mauls. It was not the creative rugby the Scarlets are famed for, but it did prove to be effective.

Despite the boos from the travelling supporters who felt that the advantage law had been extended, Treviso demonstrated their intentions by not taking the three points from the penalty, but opting for the line out.

This saw Vernon Cooper sin-binned for taking out a lifted player, and resulted in the Scarlets being down to 14 men.

With replacements being sent on for the visitors, the team had a youthful, inexperienced air to it, with high hopes that they were going to continue proving themselves on the big stage, as they have been doing all season.

Treviso drove over for their second try, following yet another line-out, demonstrating again how difficult their rolling maul is to stop, particularly when you’re a man down. It was replacement, Filippucci who fought his way over for the unconverted try, bringing the score to a much closer, 21 points to 16.

Fortunately, the Scarlets did not allow the home team to cut the deficit any further, and despite being a man down, Gareth Maule gratefully accepted replacement Scrum Half Martin Roberts’ pass before using his full height advantage to stretch his way over the line, with the TMO adjudging that he had been successful in grounding just over the line. Priestland converted to bring the score to 28 points to 15.

With three tries in the bag, thoughts were turning to the all important fourth try
and the bonus point; however, it was imperative that firstly, the game was won.

The Italians again showed that they are made of stern stuff by not giving up, and attempted an attacking move in the Scarlets 22, but with the Scarlets defence holding firm, they soon ran out of options.

Jonny F came on in place of the returning Vernon Cooper and with the youngsters being faced with similar scrummaging problems to last week; it seemed that the game was in danger of creeping into last week’s territory with the home team using their forwards to play a game that is totally alien to the skilful Scarlets. Words like ‘boring’ and ‘repetitive’ spring to mind, even though it was proving effective for the Italians.

This time, however, it was the Scarlets’ turn to show their determination and strength of character, by turning the Italian scrum. Sean Lamont’s reaction to this decision strongly demonstrated the team spirit in the squad this season, as he individually shook hands with each forward, congratulating them on their superb effort.

The Scarlets continued putting pressure on the home team, and were rewarded with a penalty on the Treviso try line. Johnathan Edwards decided to go for safety, opting for the penalty kick, rather than concentrating on the all-important bonus point. Preistland again added the points to bring the score to 31 points to 15, leaving the Italians needing to score three times if they had any hope of winning the game.

A great kick from Dan Newton put the Scarlets back in a good attacking position, and with just over 5 minutes remaining, man of the match, Ben Morgan began a now familiar drive forward to the shouts of ‘Morgan is a Welshman’. He was held up just short of the line, but replacement Jonny F literally crawled his way over the line for that fourth try that rounded off a very successful game of rugby. Suddenly, shouts of Morgan is a Welshman’ became ‘Jonny is a Welshman!!’

Priestland’s successful penalty brought the score to 38 points to 15.

Once again, Treviso showed their fighting spirit right to the end as they went back on the attack; however the Scarlets’ defence was superb, pushing the Italians backwards as the home team were unable to find any way through the visitor’s defensive line.

With the ghosts of last week and the first match back in September laid to rest, the Scarlets will go into the local derbies and the last two rounds of the Heineken Cup in a confident mood.

Next Sunday, the Scarlets’ journey is a little less as they travel across the Loughour Bridge to take on the Ospreys in a game they MUST win to make up for the disappointment earlier in the season when they lost at home, and to ensure they give the loyal supporters the best Christmas present ever!

Head of Rugby, Nigel Davies’ target for the last two matches would have been 10 points in the competition. This has been achieved, despite an increasing injury list and players playing to only around 80% of their potential…..the future’s bright….the future’s SCARLET!!