BRAVE SCARLETS FAIL TO REIGN AT RODNEY PARADE

BRAVE SCARLETS FAIL TO REIGN AT RODNEY PARADE

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

 

 

It was a wet and windy Rodney Parade that welcomed the Scarlets and their supporters as they made their way up the M4 for the final group stage match of this season’s LV= Cup.

 

With a combination of International call-ups and that ever increasing injury list, the Scarlets were yet again reliant on the services of several Llanelli RFC players along with a number of players from the developmental squad.

In comparison, the Dragons were almost full strength, apart of course from their coach, Paul Turner, who is still suspended, pending further investigations.

There were however several ‘Paul Turners’ in the crowd as many of the home crowd chose to wear Turner masks to demonstrate their support for the Head Coach.

With the wind in their favour for the first half, the Scarlets, ran out eager to impress and despite an initial Dragons were attack, it was the Scarlets team that were awarded a scrum on half way.

Unfortunately, the West Walians were penalised for delaying the put-in into the scrum and the Dragons were able to launch their attack. Despite a well worked over-lap, the Scarlets defensive wall held firm until they were unfortunately penalised.

The Dragons took an early lead of 3 points to 0 following Matthew Jones’ successful kick after just 3 minutes of play.

A huge kick downfield aided the Scarlets’ attack as it offered them a good attacking position, with popular Wing, Joe Ajuwa looking dangerous as he broke forward. Disappointingly, Darren Daniel was unable to complete the move to score a possible try.

The Scarlets applied pressure on the subsequent scrum to disrupt the Dragons’ attack and the visitors took full advantage of the near gale-force winds with a huge downfield kick.

Once again the elements played a part in the game as the Scarlets were offered a good attacking scrum following a line out that was deemed not straight, however bizarrely the Dragons were awarded a free kick.

The Scarlets forwards demonstrated their power as they drove forward from the line out but in an error-strewn half, lost the ball in contact.

A Dragons attempt at attack was met by a strong Scarlets defensive wall, with the visitors containing the home team inside their own half, leaving their only option to kick possession away.

Despite the errors creeping into the game, both sides attempted to play rugby, working through the phases.
Following a turn over, the Scarlets began an excellent attack with fast moving rugby, recycling the ball well before securing their first penalty of the match.
Unfortunately, it was not in a kickable position and despite winning the actual line-out, the men in Scarlet were unable to get the initial pass away.

It took quarter of an hour for the Scarlets to get on the score board as the Dragons were penalised for straying off-side. Dan Evans’ successful kick brought the score to 3 points all.

From the restart, the Dragons attempted to attack, but solid Scarlets’ defence ensured that the home team were unable to break into the Scarlets’ 22.

A continued Dragons attack put the proud, young Scarlets under intense pressure, but their defences stood firm and despite putting together twelve phases of play, the men from Gwent were unable to penetrate the wall of Scarlets and cross the gain line.

Dragons’ Martyn Thomas attempted a break downfield, but the Scarlets were able to both tackle him and secure the possession from the breakdown, putting in another huge upfield kick to take play back into the Dragons’ half.

The home team continued their attack from the line out, driving upfield through the forwards and were rewarded for their efforts with an easy penalty, right in front of the posts, as the Scarlets were penalised for offside.

Matthew Jones’ successful kick gave the home team a lead of 6 points to 3.

Showing character and determination, the Scarlets’ attack continued as Outside Half Owen Williams found a gap in the Dragons’ defence; however, once again the ball was lost at the breakdown.

Dragons captain, Tom Willis was penalised for stamping, following the interception of the linesman, as was fortunate not to be shown a card, despite the boos of the Newport crowd.

Unfortunately, due to the strong wind, Dan Evans saw his kick sail wide of the posts.

Once again, the Scarlets saw errors creep in as they attacked the Dragons and the home team attempted to take full advantage of their advantage with Wing Adam Hughes eventually being bundled into touch by Darren Daniel.

Worryingly, the Scarlets saw their captain, Phil John, stretched off after suffering a knee injury, making the current Front Row Crisis, critical.

With ‘Sospan Fach’ finally drowning out the roar of the Dragons crowd, the Scarlets continued attacking, driving through the forwards until they were penalised for the eighth time!

The Scarlets stole the ball from the line out and Centre Scott Williams was given the opportunity to demonstrate his skills with a great break upfield. The forwards continued the Scarlets attack into the Dragons 22, in the hope that they could score a late try.

However, with 40 minutes on the clock they had to settle for a penalty. Captain Dan Evans’ second successful kick gave a half time score of 6 points all.

The Scarlets’ determination continued into the second half. Dan Evans was unlucky not to ga
ther the high ball, but the Dragons were penalised as Martyn Thomas shoulder charged him.

Unfortunately, the penalty was not in a kickable position, but Evans was able to secure a good attacking field position.

Again the forwards demonstrated their power before Scott Williams again demonstrated his skills with a Jon Davies-style run at the Dragons.

Unfortunately the ball went forward yet again; however, the visitors gained confidence from securing a penalty from the Dragons scrum, with much credit going to replacement Prop Shaun Hopkins.

The Scarlets again drove forward from their attacking line out, with Wing Darren Daniel tackled just a few metres short of the line.

The visitors continued their attack, driving forward, passing the ball through the phases and ensuring the Dragons had to be solid in defence.

Despite camping on the Dragons’ try line and putting together 14 phases of play, the Scarlets were unable to do one thing….score a try!

They did come away from this particular attack with some points though, as the home team were penalised for killing the ball. They were indeed fortunate not to have been shown a yellow card as play was so close to the try line.

Dan Evans again kicked to give the Scarlets the lead for the first time, 9 points to 6.

Unfortunately, the Scarlets were unable to capitalise on their lead and within a matter of minutes the Dragons had scored the first try of the match. The Scarlets attempted to run the ball from deep, but again lost the ball in the tackle, which enabled the Dragons gain a dangerous attacking field position which culminated in Luke Charteris crossing the whitewash.

Jones missed the conversion, but Charteris’ try had given the Dragons an 11 point to 9 lead.

The men in red again demonstrated their character as they attempted to attack once more, aided by an amazing kick to the corner, against the wind. However, the Dragons were able to use their wind advantage to re-gain good field position.

The Scarlets secured the line out but yet again lost the ball and were subsequently penalised following the advice of the linesman regarding an incident with former Dragons player, Rhys Thomas. To the disgust of the crowd, Thomas was given a talking to, rather than the yellow card they all expected.

Matthew Jones made no mistake with this attempt at goal, bringing the score to 14 points to 9.

Once again, the Scarlets refused to relent, with Nic Reynolds breaking forward before the ball was lost. Joe Ajuwa was competent under the high ball, but was unfortunately bundled into touch so his good work had come to nothing, to the delight of the now vocal Dragons crowd as they sensed that their team was on the verge of a Semi Final place in this year’s competition.

Despite all their hard work in defence, it wasn’t long before Full Back Martyn Thomas crossed for the Dragons’ second try, this time converted, to bring the score to 21 points to 9.

Relentless Scarlets continued to attempt to look for that elusive try and defended for their lives, but on this occasion, the Dragons were too powerful and experienced and used their wind advantage to the full.

As the home team’s forwards inched ever closer to the Scarlets’ try line, the Scarlets initially managed to regroup, however, the Dragons passed the ball out wide to allow Martyn Thomas to score his second try unopposed. This time the conversion was unsuccessful but it still gave the Dragons a lead of 26 points to 9.

With renewed confidence, along with the run of the green, the Dragons continued their attack, with Aled Brew orchestrating the break out of defence. This time, the Scarlets were successful in their attempt to turn the ball over and kick into a good attacking position.

The visitors were unable to take advantage of their field position, as the Dragons were able to find increasing gaps in the Scarlets’ defensive wall to almost score a fourth try.

The Scarlets continued fighting for that try right until the bitter end, attacking from deep, with Scrum Half Gareth Davies giving a glimmer of hope to Scarlets’ supporters with his darting run upfield.

With minutes left on the clock, the ball was kept alive through the forwards who drove forward towards the try line, securing a penalty.

Replacement Hooker, Craig Hawkins drove forward, inching ever closer to the line for a last gasp try, but alas, it was not to be and the score at the end of the game remained 26 points to 9.

Despite giving their all, the brave young Scarlets were unable to stop the team’s now 4 game losing streak.

As far as this season is concerned, the Region are now only in contention in the Magners’ League where they currently lie in second place.

Next week, it’s back to Magners’ League action as the Scarlets travel to Ireland to play eleventh placed Connacht Rugby in Galway in a crunch match that is a must win for the Scarlets if they are to continue their fight for a League play-off position.

Kick off is 19.35pm next Saturday, February 12th.