SCARLETS MAKE HARD WORK OF DOUSING DRAGON’S FIRE

SCARLETS MAKE HARD WORK OF DOUSING DRAGON’S FIRE

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies  

 

Following a period of around 90 minutes on Monday that seems to have been totally erased from the memory of every Scarlets supporter, this was a game that HAD to be won, and won it was! It wasn’t a classic game of rugby, but it was a typical hard fought local derby.

The crowd of close to 10,000 in Parc Y Scarlets, thanks mainly to the Scarlets’ Christmas gift of 4 complimentary tickets for each season ticket holder, were not treated to a typical Scarlet display of creativity and flair often during the game, but this victory does see the Scarlets once again sit in second place in the Magners’ League after a temporary slip to fourth after events earlier this week.

Once again the Scarlets faithful were in fine voice, though the traditional singing turned to a thunderous ‘boo’, not when the Dragons made their entrance onto the pitch, but when Monday’s referee James Jones ran out for his linesman duties.

Following the Scarlets initial attack, the home team in their away ‘tinplate blue’ kit, were soon forced into demonstrating their defensive skills as the Dragons began an attack of their own. However, the Scarlets’ defence, with crunching tackles, proved too strong, pushing the Dragons backwards and forcing errors.

Unfortunately, the Scarlets attack, despite some good passing was not gaining the yards, and the home team found themselves still in their own half. It was Rhys Priestland’s kick that eventually got the Scarlets into a good attacking position, only for referee Tim Hayes to call the teams back for a Dragons penalty, to the disgust of the crowd who once again filled the stadium with shouts of objection as the Dragons knock-on had been missed by a certain James Jones!

Dragons’ Outside Half, Jason Tovey made no mistake with his kick to give the men from Gwent an early lead of 3 points to 0.

The Scarlets continued their attack, breaking into the Dragons’ 22 on this occasion, gaining good field position and eventually a penalty, to the delight of the crowd.

Rhys Priestland’s successful kick took him over the 100 point mark in the Magners’ League this season and brought the score to 3 points all.

The Scarlets continued their attack, working their way through the phases, but again finding it difficult to break through the Dragon’s defence and seemingly kicking possession away rather than keeping the ball in hand.

Priestland was offered a second chance to increase both his and the team’s points total, but unfortunately was wide with his attempt from almost an identical field position.

A half chance was created for Jon Davies, making a welcome return following his ankle injury, but unfortunately Josh Turnbull was unable to gather the pass to score a certain try.

Dan Newton was extremely unlucky not to have scored the opening try of the game when it was confirmed by the TMO that he was held up over the line by Adam Hughes, despite Gareth Maule being a pass away and clear to cross in the corner. He was also unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty try as the tackle was a dangerous one.

Yet again, the crowds become vocal in their frustration at the referee as yet another Scarlets attack was thwarted by the shrill burst of the whistle, despite the Dragons appearing off-side. This surely questions the decisions to have a Welsh referee in the local derbies as once again the boos rang out.

In typical local derby fashion, tempers became heated just before half time, with Aled Brew foolishly ending up in the sin bin for kicking Gareth Maule on the floor, right under the nose of the referee.

The home team attempted to take full advantage of the awarded penalty but unfortunately, were beaten by the touch line.

Rhys Priestland was then offered another penalty, this time in kicking position, but was unable to double the Scarlets’ score, meaning all the possession and rugby played proved pointless.

Priestland’s opposite number fortunately missed his opportunity to take the Dragons into the lead also, leaving the score still at just 3 points each with half time looming.

The home team attempted to finish the first half strongly and take advantage of the Dragons being a man down, with good running, but it was all very laboured, with no urgency and proved very frustrating to watch as all the possession, all the hard work gaining the inches, all the rugby that was played, and the points just weren’t being scored.

The final play before half time made things even worse for the home supporters when totally against the run of play, Dragons’ Scrum Half Wayne Evans sliced through the non-existent Scarlets’ defensive line to touch down by touching the padding of the posts to score the first try of the game, giving the Dragons a half time lead of 10 points to 3, much to the frustration of the majority of the crowd, even though the Dragons would have been pleased to be going into the break with the score 3 all. Once again, a soppy try had been let in, something the Scarlets have been guilty of several times this season.

Whatever was said in the home dressing room at half time had an almost immediate effect following excellent attacking play from the Scarlets right from the restart, culminating in ex-Dragon Gareth Maule crossing for the Scarlets’ first try just 64 seconds into the half. Priestland added the conversion to once again equalise the score at 10 points each.

The Scarlets grew in confidence following this try and once again went on the attack and no sooner did Aled Brew return, but ex-Scarlet Gavin Thomas was yellow-carded for persistently infringing in the breakdown, meaning the Dragons were once again down to 14 men.

The resulting penalty and successful kick from Rhys Priestland gave the lead to the home team for the first time, with the score line reading 13 points to 10.

The men from Gwent did not relent though as they attempted an attack of their own, however, the home team’s defence proved too good, forcing the visitors into making errors.

Yet another Dragons penalty, provoked the frustration of the crowd, and offered them a good attacking field position, but despite the Scarlets doing well to secure possession from the line-out, Sean Lamont knocked the ball on to once again gift the Dragons a good attacking position.

Applause was on the cards this time from the crowds, when the Scarlets secured the ball from the scrum, and as an added bonus, Regan King replaced try scorer Gareth Maule to once again form his successful partnership with Jonathan Davies, and the supporters were hopeful that this substitution could
be a key turning point in the game.

Unfortunately, the expectation didn’t last long as Davies was himself sin-binned after just over an hour of play, this time giving the Dragons the man advantage.

The penalty gave the Dragons a good attacking field position to go with their extra man, and the Scarlets were back in very familiar territory with a succession of defensive scrums, and decisions going against them in an almost identical position to previous weeks only against different opposition.

With the Dragons attempting to drive forward, the Scarlets scrummage held firm, with the forwards working hard to secure possession, particularly replacement prop Simon Gardner, and yet to the frustration of players and supporters alike, referee Hayes continually re-set the scrum, awarding possession to the visitors, causing the shouts of the crowd to alternate from ‘Scarlets’ to ‘cheat’!!

The Dragons were bizarrely eventually awarded a penalty, again to the frustration of the crowd who resorted to slow clapping to demonstrate their displeasure of the decision. However, the cheering was resounding when Tovey missed the chance to bring the score all square with his kick hitting the posts, offering justice for the decision possibly.

Having survived the Dragons attack, the Scarlets finally had the opportunity to attempt some attacking rugby of their own, only to kick away the possession once again.

Huge cheers filled the stadium with the Scarlets being awarded a penalty that offered a good attacking position for the home team, and that was coupled with the return of Jonathan Davies from the bin!

This time the Scarlets were able to take full advantage of their field position, with a series of familiar slick passing through the backs resulting in Rhys Priestland crossing for a try in the corner. Unfortunately, he was unable to make it a seven pointer, but with the score a far healthier 18 points to 10, it was hopeful that the home team would now begin to press for an all important bonus point.

Unfortunately, the Dragons had other ideas with Aled Brew winning the race to touch down for another Dragons try. Tovey missed the conversion, bringing the score to 18 points to 15, and despite the closeness of the score, the Scarlets were by far the stronger team on the pitch. It was a familiar heart-in-mouth feeling that most Scarlets supporters are used to by now, though after last Monday’s events, it was a welcome relief to be holding a slim lead.

Rhys Priestland completed the Scarlets’ scoring haul with a beautiful kick from just inside the Dragons half, bringing his personal tally to 16 points and the score to 21 points to 15. However it could have been a far more accurate scoreboard with Lee Williams just unable to get fingertips to touch down Tavis Knoyle’s kick upfield.

 

It was a hard fought victory for the Scarlets which demonstrated their character following a very tough week where all talking had to be done on the field today.

This victory is their seventh home victory out of nine games, proving that Parc y Scarlets is becoming the fortress that Stradey Park once was.

A relieved Nigel Davies was full of praise for the way his players bounced back from the defeat against the Ospreys, saying how desperate the team was to get back on the pitch, and praising the character they had shown, stating that to win competitions they need to be able to deal with the pressure like they have. Rhys Priestland was singled out for the way in which he controlled the game and his ability to read a game, with his coach saying he is a superb player who’s kicking out of hand is second to none.

In contrast, the Dragons’ Luke Charteris felt it was yet another game that got away, even though the Dragons would have settled for just the losing bonus point before the game, which surely demonstrates a rather negative attitude going into a match. He felt the Dragons showed good spirit and defended well.

The Scarlets are on their travels again next week when they travel to bonny Scotland to take on Edinburgh in Murrayfield. Kick off is at 6.30pm, next Saturday.