LEINSTER SHINE AS BRAVE SCARLETS SLIP TO SIXTH

LEINSTER SHINE AS BRAVE SCARLETS SLIP TO SIXTH

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

 

 

It was a huge challenge for the Scarlets as they faced the European Cup Quarter Finalists who are unbeaten at home in the RDS this season.

Led out by captain Gareth Maule following this afternoon’s announcement that Iestyn Thomas was not playing due to a minor neck injury, the visitors began strongly, unfortunately resulting in being penalised for not releasing the ball.

They continued the attack with a strong run from Wing Joe Ajuwa and excellent passing, working their way to a promising attacking line out on the 22.

Superb passing from the majestic hands of Regan King took Gareth Maule by surprise, despite him being clean through the gap.

Good work from the forwards claimed the ball and offered newly-capped Rhys Priestland a good opportunity for a drop goal, but unfortunately his kick went just wide.

The home side’s first attempt at attack resulted in them scoring their first try of the evening with just 9 minutes on the clock. The back line’s running angles saw Naill Morris crossing the white wash and Jonathan Sexton added the conversion to give Leinster a 7 point to 0 lead.

Following the restart, the Scarlets attempted to counter-attack, working hard through the phases with slick passing, but they found it difficult to move forward as the Leinster team’s defence stood firm.

A rare mistake from King saw the Irish Province kick downfield, forcing captain Maule to rescue his team.

Rhys Priestland was unsuccessful with a penalty as his second kick sailed just wide of the posts.

Leinster were offered an easy opportunity to increase their lead minutes later as the men in Scarlet were penalised for a hand in the ruck and Sexton, released from the Irish International Squad, made no mistake in increasing the lead to 10 points to 0.

The Scarlets showed the character they have become renown for this season as they continued in the positive fashion that had begun the game, building the platform to attack Leinster.

Despite the majority of the possession, the Scarlets found it difficult to break through the strong Leinster defence.

Priestland was wide again with his second penalty kick, despite the typical silence of the Irish crowd when a kick is being taken, but he was finally successfully minutes later with an easy offer of 3 points to bring the score to 10 points to 3.

This score line was not a true reflection of the game as the Scarlets had the majority of the possession and played most of the rugby in the first half, however, the odd stray pass and wrong options saw the endeavours come to nothing apart from the solitary penalty as half time loomed.

Leinster attempted a last gasp score of the half, but ended up conceding a penalty. Now confident in their scrummaging ability, the Scarlets opted for a scrum in their own 22 and subsequently a free kick which saw the half come to an end.

It was the home team that started the stronger at the beginning of the second half, finding gaping holes in the Scarlets’ defensive line as they charged towards the line.

The visitors’ desperate defence saw them killing the ball, offering Sexton a chance to increase Leinster’s lead. He made no mistake in bringing the score to 13 points to 3 with less than 3 minutes played of the second half, to the joy of the majority of the 12,000 crowd.

A long restart from Priestland saw the Irishmen back on the attack, however they knocked the ball on to offer the Scarlets a scrum in a good attacking position, right on the 22.

Bizarrely, the Scarlets saw a free kick going against them which subsequently saw Leinster back on the attack.

A charging run from Ben Morgan off the scrum was a promising start to an attack, but a crunching tackle from Rhys Ruddock on Tavis Knoyle saw the Irishmen on the attack once more.

Frustratingly, a forward pass in the Leinster attack was missed by the referee and it was down to Captain Maule to save the day again. He was not allowed to get to his feet and had several of the Irish team’s forwards falling on top of him and it should have been a Scarlets penalty, however once again the referee just watched the offence taking place.

With growing confidence, Leinster attacked the Scarlets’ defence, and a missed foot in touch which should have been a Scarlets line out, ended up as a Leinster penalty.

Once again, Sexton made no mistake in further increasing his side’s lead to 16 points to 3 and it began to feel like the Scarlets’ inaccuracies were a major factor in the game slipping away.

A glimmer of hope for the visitors came with replacement Scrum Half Gareth Davies chasing Rhys Priestland’s kick, but it was well covered by the home team’s defence.

A great take from the restart saw Leinster back on the attack, with the Scarlets relying on George North to clear the line. However, the home team were unrelenting in their attack and secured another penalty, which Sexton knocked over to bring the score to 19 points to 3.

Sadly, Mount Leinster started becoming increasingly difficult for the young Scarlets to conquer.

A rolling maul from the home team saw them drive forward into the Scarlets’ half once again, easily gaining ground and forcing the Scarlets to defend the continuing waves of attack.

The Scarlets were awarded another penalty; however, the field position didn’t offer any option for kicking.

There was a slight improvement in the performance of the Scarlets, but they once again lost continuity by losing the ball in a vital stage of the attack.

A great break from lively Scrum Half Davies, following excellent work on the floor by Ben Morgan saw the visitors throw everything into getting that vital try and they put sustained pressure on the Leinster team.

A good attacking scrum saw firstly Ben Morgan driving forward and then Prop Rhys Thomas squeezing over near the corner to score the Welsh Region’s first try of the night. This time, Rhys Priestland was successful in his conversion and closed the gap to 19 points to 10.

The try saw the momentum swing to the Scarlets, and another penalty saw the visitors offered a good attacking field position.

Leinster attacked again, but the Scarlets remained firm in defence for a while, but unfortunately not only did the visitors give away 2 penalties in quick succession, Captain Gareth Maule was yellow carded so that his team would finish the game with 14 men.

Despite a strong come back and playing all the rugby in the first half, the Scarlets saw Boss drive over for a try from the scrum. Sexton once again added the extras to bring the score to 26 points to 10, with just 5 minutes left on the clock.

With the minutes ticking away, the Scarlets demonstrated their typical heart and soul by continuing to attack, working their way into the opposition’s half.

With Leinster defending on their own try line the Scarlets forwards worked through the phases before releasing the ball to the backs and Nic Reynolds crossed in the corner.

Unfortunately, Priestland was unsuccessful once again with his conversion attempt to give a score line of 26 points to 15. Once again, it was a case of what may have been, particularly with all the missed kicks and silly errors.

Sadly, the loss tonight has now seen the Scarlets slip into sixth in the League, with a difficult run into the end of the season and the possibility of winner takes all game against Cardiff Blues to see which team goes through to the play-offs.

With Wales playing Ireland next Saturday and the final round of the Six Nations the following week, the Scarlets’ next match is on Sunday, March 27^th when Benetton Treviso make their first visit to Parc y Scarlets for a Magners League match, kick off, 5.35pm. March 27^th will also see Ladies Day returning to Parc y Scarlets…..more details to follow!!