COMMITTED SCARLETS LAY WARRIORS GHOSTS TO REST WITH SOLID HOME WIN

The Scarlets Head Coach said that his group of lesser-known players have been the real stars of the show and have been at the heart of the region’s solid performance in the first part of the season.

Nigel Davies praised his Scarlets team for a sound victory (18-14) against a Glasgow side littered with Scottish internationals and one they had not beaten on the last five occasions.

The Scarlets were without 10 of their international-class players for this fixture and with a number of senior players not available, Davies said the performance was an indication of how far the mainstay of the squad had come.

With five wins out of seven in the first stage of the Magners League, the Scarlets are placed second in the Magners League table on 24 points behind Munster on 28, and it’s a position the region will be content with after making it a prime focus this season.

Davies said: “Some may have thought we’d struggle today because some of our big names were away, but really the stars for me are the boys who played today.  Our senior players are really important to us of course, but for me the real stars of the show this season are the guys who stood-up today – our new breed of Scarlets and what they are doing is making a real difference to us this year.”

Davies praised a number of his players for toughing out the Glasgow win including Josh Turnbull, Ben Morgan, Damian Welch, Lou Reed and man-of-the-match and first time captain for this match Iestyn Thomas, with 93 Magners League games under his belt.

One of core of rising star players is Scarlets no 10 Rhys Priestland who once again put in an intelligent and comprehensive kicking game amidst very soggy conditions at Parc y Scarlets.

The 23-year-old outside half in his 50^th Magners appearance was responsible for all 18 of the Scarlets points with six penalties confidently struck to stay in control of the game.  He has now notched up an impressive 338 points in his Magners League career.

Priestland said:  “We’re really delighted with that win it was very wet and slippery out there, so we kicked a lot of ball to put pressure on them and make them deal with the conditions and we’re pleased to come away with that result. We’ve had some great go forward again from the pack and guys like Ben Morgan who are coming up to us from Llanelli RFC just step up and fit straight into our system – Llanelli are playing and exciting brand of rugby like us.”

On Rhys Priestland, Nigel Davies said:  “He’s just getting better and better – technically he’s always been of the highest ability but what he has developed over the past 18 months is a mental edge to his game as well and he’s able to tough it out over games. He was superb – he’s developed a great kicking game and his goal kicking today has improved as well. We’re delighted with his progression with us.”

On the first phase of Magners performances, Davies said:  “That was a big result for us in tough conditions, we can be pleased with where we are after our first seven games albeit we are disappointed to have lost the two games we did.  However, from where we have come from to sign-off this first phase now in second place is pleasing - but more importantly I’m happy with the depth of the squad that is coming through for us.”