POOR KICKING COSTS SCARLETS OPENING WIN

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

Following a busy start to the season, with the Rugby World Cup along with the usual domestic rugby, the Pro12 takes a break for the beginning of the Champions’ Cup.

The Scarlets can feel very satisfied with their start, albeit with one small hiccup last week away against Leinster. The region’ feel-good factor was this week buoyed with the news that International Centre Jonathan ‘Foxy’ Davies would be returning next season along with whisperings that George North could be following him home along with Leigh Halfpenny which would give the West Walians a formidable back line.

The opponents for this first round outing at Franklins Gardens, which is the current home of North…is Northampton – a team that is familiar to the Scarlets and a team that they have enjoyed success over in recent seasons.

An aggressive start for the Scarlets saw them keep possession before securing a penalty that would have seen them with a line-out 5 metres out, however, Shingler’s kick was too far and the advantage was back with the home team.

With the home team back in possession, they made good use of their forwards before Ken Pisi crossed for the first try of the night. JJ Hanrahan slotted over the easy conversion to give his team an early 7 point to 0 lead.

A break from firstly Gareth Davies and then DTH saw the visitors inch closer to the Northampton try line, with Aaron Shingler just a yard short. Sensibly, the Scarlets chose to kick the 3 points from the penalty to open their scoring, 7 points to 3, rather than press for the try at this early stage.
Another penalty kick for the men in red a matter of minutes later unfortunately drifted wide of the posts and the gap remained at 4 points.

Against the run of play Northampton managed to turn the ball over and run the length of the pitch before Luther Burrell crossed for the try. However, former Scarlet George North probably unintentionally, did his former club a huge favour. A stamp on the shoulder of Michael Tagicakibau, which saw him leave the field also saw the Wing spend 10 minutes in the bin and the try cancelled out – possibly a turning point in the match.

Northampton were offered the chance to increase their lead following replacement Tom Williams holding on to the ball in the tackle, but Hanrahan’s tricky attempt sailed wide. He missed another moments later, to the relief of the men in red.

A powerful rolling maul from Northampton saw them drive over the line, however the Scarlets’ defence somehow managed to hold the ball up. The return of North for the subsequent scrum v was testament to the team that they managed to stop the Scarlets use their man advantage during the 10 minute binning period.

With half time looming Steve Shingler added another penalty to cut the deficit to just a point – 7 points to 6. However, the Scarlets seemed determined to finish the half on a high. A superb break from Jake Ball saw the Lock power his way downfield before offloading, though unfortunately DTH was just a touch too close to the touch line.

The Scarlets were offered an early opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the opening minutes of the second half, but it seemed that Shingler was aiming for the corner flag rather than the posts with his attempt.

Again George North did his old team mates a favour by taking the ball over his own try line resulting in the Scarlets being awarded with another scrum v. With numbers on their side, it seemed the Shingler nightmare was to continue as he took the wrong option with his long pass and unfortunately theadvantage was back with the home team.

A superb break from in-form Scrum Half Gareth Davies saw him leave the Saints defence for dust as he broke through for the Scarlets’ first try of the night. Somehow Shingler managed to hit the posts with his conversion attempt, however the visitors took the lead for the first time – 7 points to 11.

Northampton fought back immediately with the power of the forwards crossing almost immediately to re-take the lead – 12 points to 11 with Alex Waller claiming the touch down. Hanrahan was unsuccessful with his attempt to add the extras and there remained just a point in it.

As weather conditions deteriorated, so did the handling, however, another penalty at the breakdown saw Northampton down to 14 men once more, though the Scarlets were unable to take any advantage during North’s absence.

Hanrahan crucially increased the Saints’ lead to 4 points, 15 points to 11, with an easy penalty, highlighting how the kicking performance of Shingler could well have cost the visitors the game.

A break from James Davies offered the Scarlets hope but they were unable to complete the move and the referee decided to go back for the penalty.

Despite the substitution of Shingler, the Scarlets’ awful kicking performance continued as Aled Thomas was wide with his attempt to bring the scores within a point once more as the game entered the last 5 minutes.

With just 2 minutes left on the clock, the Saints opted for a kick for corner following another penalty award at the breakdown as the home team looked to cement their victory.

In the end, poor kicking cost the Scarlets the game and a total of 11 points and it was definitely a case of the Scarlets losing the game rather than Northampton winning the game, however the Saints managed to cling on to their 15 point to 11 lead to win the first game, with the Welsh Region having to be content with a losing bonus point.

Next Saturday, the Scarlets welcome Racing 92 to Parc y Scarlets, with the possibility of World Cup winner Dan Carter making his debut for the French side. Due to the tragic events in Paris last night, all fixtures involving French teams this weekend have been postponed.