Scarlets fire against the Italians with six try victory

It was a case of a warm Welsh welcome on a cold night to the newly formed region of Aironi – the first Italian team to visit Parc y Scarlets. The Scarlets were looking to follow last week’s narrow bonus point win against Connacht while Aironi were looking for their first win in the Magners.

A hat trick from man of the match centre Jon Davies put paid to any Italian hopes – along with another eye catching display from young North Wales wing George North, who scored his third try in three competitive games for the region.

The kick-off might have been a late one – because of coverage of the Pope’s visit to Britain – but the game woke up early enough, with the crowd in fine voice before the teams were out and the Scarlets in the opponents half immediately.

Rob McCusker stole possession from the line out and Scarlets started attacking again. The move across the back line failed but the Scarlets were called back to be given a penalty on the 22 in front of the posts. Stephen Jones stepped up and made no mistake. Score 3-0 with 10 minutes gone.

Scarlets were then penalised for crossing and with no obvious advanage to Aironi, Mercier steps up and kicked the penalty to level the scores 3-3.

Scarlets forward pressure, with runs from Lyons and McCusker saw Aironi offend as they tried to deal with them. Stephen Jones once again steps up for second penalty. 6-3 Scarlets.

Twenty minutes gone and it was still very tight with Scarlets enjoying most of the possession and putting more moves toether but not getting the break throughs needed to worry the Aironi line. Aironi get in to Scarlets’ 22 , scrum to Scarlets for Aironi knock on.

The Scarlets continued to dominate and moved up field. King and Lamont linked deep into the 22 from a ruck, taken on by Lou Reed and the forwards within 5 metres of the try line. It was a promising period of composed pressure by the home side.

After some Aironi attacking and solid Scarlets defending and tackling, the first try came just after the half an hour mark – flowing a lovely break down the middle from Johnathan Edwards, who passed to Lamont. He was just pulled up short but got the ball back, across the backs for Fenby to cross the try line out on the right hand flank. Stephen Jones converted 13 -3 Scarlets after 32 mins.

Not long after it was Tavis Knoyle’s turn to break through the middle. Then a Sean Lamont interception saw Scarlets regain possesion after he had ran through the Aironi defence. The ball moved out wide and reached George North who ran towards the line, passed two players before driving over the line, carrying tacklers with him. A cracking try, his first league try at home at Parc y Scarlets and very popular with a lively Scarlets crowd. Stephen missed the conversion so it was 18-3 at the break.

Right from the off, the Scarlets attacked moving up through the middle again and Aironi were penalised. Stephen Jones, from just outside the 22, kicked a penalty and took the scroe 21-3 in the first minute of the second half.

Not long after, it was Tavis Knoyle’s turn to break up the middle, the Scarlets keeping it tight this time moving 20 metres through the forwards. Aironi get the ball and start to go through phases but ferocious tackling – including a cruncher from George North flooring Aironi captain Geldenhuys, stopped their most promising move to date.

Tavis Knoyle chased a kick through which crosses the try line but the ball is gathered by Aironi winger Demas, who had a good match. But the Scarlets now started to pick up the tempo and play with confidence.

McCusker, from the back of the line out passes Knoyle and the ball moved across the backs again, with Regan King again in excellent form and once again, he linked skillfully with his partner Jon Davies. The centre ran almost the length of the half outpacing every Aironi tackler to cross under the posts. Stephen Jones converted, 28-3 after 53 mins.

Aironi were down to 10 men following a yellow card for Jaco Erasmus just as the Scarlets were beginning to consolidate their pressure. Scarets brought on Rhys Thomas, Josh Turnbull and Rhys Priestland.

The bonus point came with a lovely show of hands and link play for Jonathan Davies to cross the line, with George North again playing a prominent part. Stephen Jones converts, 35 – 3 with 63 minutes gone.

Close to the touch line, George North caught the ball behind his back and the resultant kick and chase had the crowd on their feet. A scrum five metres out for the Scarlets brought out Sospan Fach at full volume around a lively Parc y Scarlets stadium. Aironi brought down the scrum, penalty to the Scarlets. From the ruck, substitute Martin Roberts gathered the ball and some tricky running saw him break through the Aironi defence under the posts for a try. Stephen Jones converted to take the score to 42-3. Gareth Maule replaced Regan King who put in another strong performance.

From kick off the ball fell into George North hands and his run along the length of the touch line excited the crowd of 6123 once more.

It was now relentless Scarlets pressure and all Aironi could do was to contain the Scarlets. From a lineout the ball got out to Jon Davies who crossed for his hat-trick try. Stephen conversion makes it 49-3 on 80 minutes.

Last ditch Aironi pressure saw them get an injury minute try after tight forward work, with Nick Williams crossing. Mercier succeeded in bringing them to double points. The final score 49-10 at the end of back-to-back bonus point win for the Scarlets.

At the end of the evening, the Scarlets with 11 points were positioned second in the Magners League behind Ulster on 12.