SCARLETS’ TREVISO ITALIAN JOB, PART 2 – THE REVENGE!!
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By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies
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The Scarlets gave their faithful followers an early Christmas present at Parc y Scarlets with a bonus point win in the third round of the Heineken Cup.
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However, despite the win, Treviso’s Franco Smith was left delighted and Scarlets’ Nigel Davies disappointed, in the post match press conference!
The Scarlets couldn’t have asked for a better start with returning Wing, Sean Lamont crossing for a try under the posts within the first two minutes of the game following some trademark creative rugby. Stephen Jones converted to give the home side a 7 point to 0 lead before many were even sitting comfortably in their seats! He added a further 3 points not long after as the men in red secured a penalty as they continued on the attack right from the restart.
The Treviso team were unlucky, however, not to have scored an early try to cut the deficit when they broke through the Scarlets’ defence and must surely have been wandering what happened to the advantage they should have had.
Outside Half, Kris Burton was able to get the Italian’s first score soon after, as the Scarlets were penalised, bringing the score to 10 points to 3.
Yet again, the Scarlets were able to continue their attack from the restart, but despite the good field position, a scrum resulted in a penalty against the home team. The Treviso forwards took control and were unable to find a chink in the Scarlets’ defensive armour, until Number 10 Burton popped over a drop goal to ensure the Italian team’s time in the Scarlets’ 22 had been fruitful, leaving the score line reading 10 points to 6.
The Scarlets were soon back on the attack though, even if the ball was being played in a crab-like fashion, plenty of passing, but not many hard yards gained.
Worryingly for the team, Stephen Jones then became the latest casualty on an ever increasing injury list as he limped off 20 minutes into the game. Initial thoughts were that he has suffered some sort of knee injury, with Head of Rugby, Nigel Davies confirming that Jones will under-go a scan in the next 24 hours, when the swelling has gone down. On a slightly more positive note, Stephen was walking unaided by the end of the game, and it is hopeful that his injury is not as serious as was originally thought.
With boos and shouts of ‘rubbish’ echoing around the stands, Treviso were awarded a penalty and Centre Gonzalo Garcia soon crossed for a try which was converted by Burton to give the visitors the lead for the first time, 13 points to 10.
In defence, it seems that the Scarlets pressed the panic button for a while, but Rhys Priestland was able to save the day and possibly stop a second Treviso try.
The home team soon earned a rousing ‘Scarlets, Scarlets’ from the crowd as Regan King scored their second try of the afternoon, surely a nomination for try of the season, with slick passing and a flair that could only be Scarlet – this was the Scarlets at their best! Rhys Priestland added a successful conversion to bring the score to 17 points to 13 and the lead was regained.
Man of the match, Ben Morgan showed his ball carrying skills to the full as he stormed forward from the restart, securing a penalty right in front of the posts which gave Priestland the opportunity to increase the lead to 20 points to 13.
A period of ‘pendulum’ rugby saw the possession swinging from one team to the other, until Treviso were offered a chance to cut the deficit, only to see Burton’s kick sail wide.
Yet again this week, Tavis Knoyle demonstrated what a live wire he is at Scrum Half, with his darting forward runs leaving the opposition in his wake, as he gained ground, before setting up his forwards to force another penalty.
Priestland’s kick ensured a comfortable half time score of 23 points to 13.
The second half began in much the same way as the first, with the home team intent on attack, culminating with Josh Turnbull crossing for the Scarlets’ third try of the afternoon and making the score 30 points to 13, after Priestland added the extras.
This left the home crowd in buoyant mood, even if a little dubious following the events of last week, and they had every right to be wandering if it was to be déjà vu when Treviso Wing, Benvenuti finished off a superb converted try for the Italians which had been started on their own try line. This brought the score to 30 points to 20.
Unfortunately, the visitors weren’t finished there as they opted for the corner kick following a Scarlet infringement in the scrum. Despite the initial Scarlet backward drive, Scrum Half Semenzato left the Scarlet defence wide open as he crossed in the corner. Burton’s conversion from the touch line brought the score to 30 points to 27 and the supporters were in ‘here we go again’ territory once more.
English referee Greg Garner became the target for the crowd’s frustration with a serious of baffling decisions which left many wandering if it was possible that his communicative links with his touch judges had broken down. He was cheered however, when the Scarlets finally secured a penalty, only to see Priestland’s kick go wide. Minutes later, he was offered another, easier chance, but again missed the opportunity to give the Scarlets some much needed breathing space and to leave the visitors needing to score a try.
Replacement Johnathan Edwards ensured he got in on the action almost immediately as he was influential in the build up to the Scarlets’ bonus point try, scored by Sean Lamont, who yet again showed his class.
Priestland, unfortunately, missed his third kick in succession, but w
ith the score line reading 35 point to 27 on the hour mark, things were a little easier for the faithful fans!
Remaining confident following Lamont’s try, the Scarlets continued their attack, only to yield penalty after penalty, much to the disgust of the crowd, who by now felt the referee was watching a totally different game of rugby, and ensured their feeling were made known with a slow clapping of hands.
Treviso demonstrated that they are not the Italian ‘whipping boys’ in the Pool, as they finished the match strongly, mounting wave after wave of forward pressure on the home team.
Despite the scrummage being possibly the most improved area of play this season for the Scarlets, it seemed the referee disagreed, often to the bemusement of the majority of the 6,421 crowd, who became extremely vocal in airing their views that it was the Treviso team who were unable to withstand the pressure of the Scarlets scrum and the boos rang around the stadium once again.
Fortunately, where holes had been found in the Scarlets’ defensive line earlier on in the match, camped on their own try line, the Scarlets were indestructible.
Try scorer Turnbull became the hero of the hour in the dying minutes with a superb try saving tackle which saw him somehow hold up and turn a sure Italian try scorer, demonstrating his true commitment.
Treviso’s Franco Smith said after the game he was proud of his players’ performance and despite this defeat leaving the Italians unable to qualify for the knock out stages of the competition, they would be committed to winning next week in the return fixture in the Stadio Monigo where the Scarlets lost their opening Magners League fixture right at the start of this season.
In contrast, Scarlets’ Nigel Davies was disappointed, despite the bonus point win. He felt that despite the all important bonus point, the performance was not great, even though he was delighted with 20 year old tight-head prop Simon Gardiner’s performance and the massive defensive effort on the try line. As he pointed out, a similar defensive effort is required at all times, and not just when the pressure is that intense.
In many ways, it’s a good place to be, as we are now winning matches without putting in the performance, but the Scarlets will need to put in a considerably improved performance next week to secure the much needed win, particularly with Perpignan victorious over the Leicester Tigers, which leaves Pool 5 wide open.
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