Scarlets show their mettle to seal valuable home win

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby has praised his players ambition and effort to secure an important home win against a quality Ulster side to put them back in the top six of the PRO12.

In challenging conditions, with driving wind and rain the Scarlets kept to their pledge to bring their home supporters a big performance after the disappointment of drawing to Zebre the previous weekend.

And it was evident to see how much getting back to winning ways on home soil meant to the Scarlets players and supporters after securing the 17-9 victory over a strong and experienced Ulster side that had got the better of them in Ravenhill in the play-offs last May.

Ulster outside half Ruan Pienaar made it look easy in the nasty, swirling wind to slot the ball between the posts and put Ulster into an early ninth-minute lead.

But Scarlets spark refused to be dampened despite the conditions, with the West Wales side enjoying sustained periods of pressure and putting together strong phases of play on the Ulster line – securing the majority of possession and territory.

Pienaar kicked Ulster to within five points soon into the second half but Aled Thomas stepped up competently coming off the bench for the injured Steve Shingler to kick three penalties in total and keeping the hosts in front.

Despite not being a high scoring game in very difficult conditions, the Scarlets showed their ability to control the game in both halves and with it restore pride against an Ulster side that had taken the upper hand in recent contests.

Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “I’m very pleased with the response we have had from the players this week’ that was a very solid performance throughout and we kept a quality Ulster team at arms length thanks to a huge amount of effort from everyone involved.

“We didn’t allow Ulster to get into their stride and it was comprehensive and balanced performance in those conditions in terms of showing ambition and adventure in our game as well as keeping on top of possession and territory for key periods.

“The commitment and drive that the players have shown all week and then taken in the game has been excellent. That’s been backed up with the efforts of our backroom staff to support the players well after a physical contest in Italy and a tough week in training this week.

“We made it difficult for the players this week – and they have responded in the best way possible. We need to bring consistency to our game, we’ve had up and down patches in our form and we have to make sure we are up for every encounter and that performance showed how good we can be.

“Our next encounters in the PRO12 against Connacht and Leinster will be big games again and we have to make sure we back up this important win for us.”

Scarlets captain Phil John, who put in a huge individual performance and led from the front throughout, added that the intensity in training this week had flowed into the game at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday evening.

He said: “It was very pleasing to come out with that result and performance tonight with many of our internationals away with Wales. We have upped the intensity in training this week and worked hard and the pack in particular I think showed what it can do.

“Credit to Sione Timani on his man of the match award, it was well-deserved he gave us massive gain line; although the scoreboard wasn’t high it was all about keeping possession and territory and playing the game in Ulster’s 22.

“We showed that we can be a strong group and even when Ulster started to creep back to we held up well and credit to Aled Thomas he slotted over the penalties.

“There were a few things said in the week and you saw that in our performance this evening. We need a win, but more importantly a win at home – it’s a big boost for us and we wanted to target our home games and get back up the table. We now need to keep momentum going.

“There were a few boys out there this weekend who haven’t played as much rugby this season and were hungry to put in a big performance – we’ve got some good youngsters who have held their hands up after that performance; so it’s positive to see as we now go into the LV=Cup games.”