BRAVE SCARLETS FAIL TO HALT PERPIGNAN POWERING TO HOME QUARTER FINAL

BRAVE SCARLETS FAIL TO HALT PERPIGNAN POWERING TO HOME QUARTER FINAL

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

 

 

 

It was a simple winner takes all game, with the prize being either progressing to the knock-out stages of the European Cup, or dreaming of next year. Unfortunately, with Perpignan demonstrating their ambitions to win the Cup right from the kick-off, the Scarlets team and travelling supporters, face a long journey back home, with hopes of a Welsh representative in this year’s Quarter Final stages, shattered.

It was a huge task for the Scarlets as they strived to become the only Welsh team that has ever won in the intimidating Bull Ring, but there was expectation all around as they ran out through the cheerleaders in their away ‘Tin Plate’ Blue kit into the French sunshine.

Almost immediately, the Perpignan were on the attack, despite a belief that the Scarlets would begin strongly as they have done in previous matches, giving themselves a platform on which to attempt to build. 

The home team were offered a free kick from the first scrum of the match after the Scarlets were deemed to have engaged too early.

Disappointingly, the line out ghosts returned to haunt the Scarlets once again this weekend, and Perpignan launched a powerful wave of attack that the Welsh region were unable to defend and resulted in the home side scoring the first try of the game as Full Back, Jerome Porical crossed the line.

In an afternoon that saw kickers from both teams struggling, he was unable to convert his own try, but still gave the French team an early 5 points to 0 lead.

The Scarlets were able to secure possession from the re-start but once again the line out proved to be a haunting experience for the West Walians.

A penalty against Tavis Knoyle at the scrum offered the home team a good attacking position on half way and created a Perpignan rolling maul that resembled a steam roller, crushing everything that tried to halt it. The Scarlets were totally defenceless in even attempting, much to the delight of the vocal French crowd and consequently conceded a penalty.

Again, the kick was missed, but by now the Scarlets were on the back foot, with Perpignan turning the ball over, sucking in the Scarlets defence as Number 8 Henry Tuilagi demonstrated good finishing skills to score in the corner, as his team reached the halfway stage of their quest for a bonus point win.
On this occasion, Porical made no mistakes in adding the conversion to bring the score to 12 points to 0, and Scarlets hopes dwindling by the minute.

The Scarlets did show heart in this performance and attempted to attack whenever possible, but unfortunately errors began creeping into the game, resulting in Perpignan being offered yet another chance to keep their scoreline ticking over with a penalty kick at goal.

Porical missed his third kick of the afternoon as the visitors threw everything they had to offer at the French and were finally awarded a penalty of their own following an interception and kick upfield from Gareth Maul which gave the travelling Scarlets Army something to shout about at last.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Scarlets Outside Half and usually Mr Reliable Stephen Jones’ boots had been struck by the same curse as those of Porical as he missed a kick in front of the posts, much to the disappointment of the fans who had travelled the miles.

Yet again from the re-start the Scarlets attacked the strong Perpignan defensive line, slowly gaining the inches, keeping ball in hand with so many balls being recycled it almost seemed as though each member of the squad had been involved in this particular attack.

However, Perpignan proved the stronger at the break down and were able to turn the ball over and relieve any Scarlets danger.

Sean Lamont bravely ran the ball back at the French from inside his own 22, before Lou Reed finally managed to find a tiny gap in the mighty Perpignan defensive wall to burst upfield. He was awarded with a penalty for his efforts but Rhys Priestland joined the kicker’s curse and was also unable to open the scoring for the Scarlets.

The Scarlets were relentless in attempting to attack the home team, running the ball from all over the pitch, but unfortunately were unable to transform any of the attacking opportunities into any sort of points, as attack after attack resulted in Perpignan turning the ball over.

Rhys Priestland’s kick brought the visitors back into Perpignan’s half once again but following more powerful forward play from the French, they released their own dangerous backs who were equally confident to run the ball from anywhere, demonstrating that this French team has the perfect mix of forwards and backs that could ultimately result in them fulfilling their dream of lifting the European Cup this season.

Following a decision from referee Dave Pearson from England, that the first of the two knock-ons had come off a Scarlet hand, the home team were able to take full advantage of their good attacking position and poor Scarlets tackling, to score their third try.

Wing Farid Sid crossed just over the half hour mark to bring the score to 19 points to 0 and Perpignan were safe in the knowledge that scoring one more try would secure them an all-important home draw in the Quarter Finals of this year’s competition.

They almost succeeded in scoring their bonus point in the first half, but were penalised. This enabled Stephen Jones to clear the danger temporarily.

Another Scarlets penalty brought the hope that the Scarlets could finish the half with a score, as they opted to kick for the corner rather than the posts.

Fortunately on this occasion the visitors were able to secure their line out and drive closer to the Perpignan try line, demonstrating some good forward power of their own as they drove forward before releasing the backs, who were unfortunately driven backward.

Another penalty against the home team offered the Scarlets a second chance as they again opted for the corner kick, but all too familiarly, the ball was turned over and once again a promising attacking position had been conceded without any points scored.

Perpignan finished the half with a rare successful kick at goal following the men in Tin Plate Blue being deemed offside. The last kick of the game brought the half time score to a daunting 22 points to 0.

The Scarlets started much stronger in the second half following Priestland’s long kick off and the home team’s inability to gather the loose ball.

Perpignan continued to attack but the Scarlets secured firstly a scrum and then a penalty inside their own half.

After securing the line out, they attempted to launch another attack against the home team, finding it difficult to find any gaps in the solid Perpignan defence until good rugby from both Priestland and Gareth Maule resulted in Jon Davies crossing for the Scarlets only score of the game. Again, Stephen Jones was off target with his attempt at the conversion to bring the score line to 22 points to 5.

Suddenly there was a slight hope and expectation that the Scarlets had begun climbing ‘Mount’ Perpignan, but unfortunately the one thing a team must ensure they don’t do following the scoring of a try, is to concede one straight after…and that’s just what the Welsh region did!

Despite attempting to attack from deep, the Scarlets suffered at the hands of another French turnover and also it seemed decided to help Perpignan in the scoring of their bonus point try, by forgetting to tackle!!

Unusually, referee Pearson required the help of the TMO to confirm not the scoring of Florian Cazenave’s try, but the conversion that brought the score to 29 points to 5, as the touch judges found the French sun too strong!

The Scarlets continued their attack from the re-start but in contrast to the French who looked dangerous every time they had the ball in hand, the visitor’s attack lacked pace and the usual flair.

Perpignan were offered a chance to further increase their score as they were awarded a penalty following yet another turn over. The home crowd almost seemed incensed as Nicolas Laharrague’s successful kick brought the score to 32 points to 5 as the boos at the decision to kick rang through the ground, as did a rather impressive Mexican Wave!

Demonstrating their desire not to give up, the Scarlets again tried to run the ball out of their own half, but unfortunately, Tavis Knoyle knocked on. The visitors were able to secure a free kick from the subsequent scrum and once again inched closer to the French 22.

A corner kick from the Scarlets following a penalty from the scrum was again the decision, and again despite securing the line out, the ball was turned over.

Far more worrying than the turn-over count of the game was the sight of young Prop Simon Gardiner being stretched-off to the applause of the supporters, following an injury to his already heavily-strapped knee. Seemingly the curse of the Tight Head Prop had struck once again.

Despite Gardiner’s injury being almost the final nail in the Scarlets’ coffin on a disappointing afternoon for the Region, the team showed heart and character against a Perpignan team that was just too good and they certainly didn’t allow the French team to have things all their own way.

They continued attacking the French and were able to secure another penalty, though were unfortunate that a forward pass brought that particular attack to nothing once again, despite the numbers out wide that could possibly have seen a second Scarlets try.

Replacement Scrum Half Martin Roberts’ misjudgment of his kick found the Scarlets back on half way but they once again launched an attack on the French side.

Perpignan’s dominance of the game was telling, particularly in defense as the Scarlets were forced to commit too many players, resulting in them being unable to cross the gain line with enough pace to find any gaps in the Perpignan defense and consequently resulted in conceding yet another penalty.

The powerful Perpignan forwards made no mistake in driving over the Scarlets’ try line to score their fifth try of the match, with the TMO confirming that replacement Gerrie Blitz had grounded the ball.

Unfortunately for the Scarlets, the home team’s overall performance hadn’t been as shocking as the awful attempt at the conversion, and the score remained 37 points to 5.

The proud Scarlets continued to fight until the bitter end and kept their heads held high, in the hope that scoring a consolation try would make the score board look slightly more attractive.

However, it was Perpignan who looked more likely to be crossing the whitewash until their chasing runner tripped over and fell just short of the line, offering welcome relief to the Scarlets, who by now must have been counting the seconds until the final whistle.

Disappointingly it took 75 minutes before the Scarlets were able to secure a penalty from the break down and by then it was a case of too little, too late, particularly with the line-out ghost making an appearance once again to offer Perpignan another scrum.

Fortunately the French knocked the ball on to offer the Scarlets a last gasp attempt at attack as the visitors were awarded a second penalty in the breakdown.

With over 81 minutes on the clock, dominant Perpignan’s final turn over brought the game to an end with a final score line of 37 points to 5.

Scarlets’ Head of Rugby, Nigel Davies stated his disappointment at the end of the match, particularly with the Scarlets’ accuracy. He also spoke for every supporter it seems, by admitting that he thought the game would have been a lot closer than it was. Once again though, it was good experience for the young squad.

The possible only positive to come from today is the news that one of the injured Tight Head Props is making a welcome return from injury with Nigel confirming that Rhys Thomas will play some part in next week’s game.

Despite the score line, the Scarlets have this season proved what a good team they are, greatly improved from last season, and have been noted by the rugby world for both the style of rugby they play and also the heart and determination such a young squad have demonstrated.

The Heineken European Cup is THE elite tournament in Europe and it is a competition that every team wants to be involved in, but following defeats by the Leicester Tigers last week and today’s defeat at the hands of Perpignan, questions must now surely be asked regarding the difference in funding in not just each country, but each region.

The Scarlets have in place a
very successful development structure and it is these youngsters that have this season put us in the position that we now find ourselves in, by week after week giving their all for the Scarlets shirt.

Admittedly, we have failed in our target to qualify for the Quarter Finals of the European Cup, or even the Amlin Cup, but we are still second in the League and have everything to play for in the LV= Cup as we sit at the top of our group.

Today, the young guns were asked to front up an extremely strong French team, packed full of French Internationals, and with a monetary value at least treble that of the current Scarlets squad. They played with courage and for the jersey, but surely if we are expected to compete in Europe, the time has come to put into place some sort of structure to ensure financial equality among the European teams before the Scarlets and other teams in a similar position begin spiraling into a vicious circle of continually losing the best of their home-nurtured talent to the clubs, like the big money French, who can afford to have them sitting on the bench week in, week out.

Next Saturday, the Scarlets are back at home and are joined by the Army to celebrate Armed Forces Day as they take on injured Gavin Henson’s Saracens in the LV= Cup. Kick off is at 3.00pm……..your region need you!