SUPERB SECOND HALF SINKS BATH
By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies
The Scarlets opened their Anglo-Welsh Cup this season with a home fixture against Bath. Following a break last season due to the World Cup, the competition makes a return this season, aiming to give the development players the opportunity to play at a higher level.
An unfamiliar Scarlets side took the field in the unfamiliar setting of just the South Stand being open in Parc y Scarlets as the home team welcomed their visitors, not only playing for a first-round win, but also the famous ‘Rag Doll’ that hung from the upright of the posts.
The Scarlets opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty to lead 3 – 0 as the men in red enjoyed much of the possession and territory in the opening minutes of the game.
Bath were unable to take advantage of their visit into the Scarlets’ 22 and yet again the defensive performance from the home team proved to be effective.
Despite pressing for the first try of the evening, the Scarlets opted to kick for the 3 points following a penalty for a professional foul to double their lead to 6 points to 0.
However, it was Bath that scored the opening try of the day with Prop Max Lahiff sneaking over in the corner to touch down. Rhys Priestland, a familiar face making his first return to the Parc y Scarlets added the tricky conversion to give the visitors the lead, 6 points to 7.
The confidence of the Bath team was evident as they tested the Scarlets defence before Lahiff claimed his brace of tries in a matter of minutes. Priestland made no mistake with the conversion from in front of the posts to extend his new team’s lead to 6 points to 14.
A penalty for a high tackle offered Dan Jones the opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the Scarlets 9 – 14, but it wasn’t long before Bath were in for their third. Excellent hands saw Wing Jeff Williams stroll in unopposed in the corner. Priestland maintained his 100% kicking record and gave Bath a strong half time lead of 9 point to 21.
The Scarlets began the second half well, working through the phases and crossing the gain line with ease, however they fell foul of the referee’s whistle on more than one occasion which met with a thunderous booing from the crowd.
The Scarlets finally scored their first try of the evening following a penalty kick to the corner, securing the line-out and working through the phases before Flanker Josh Macleod crossed the whitewash. Dan Jones added the conversion to narrow the gap significantly to 16 points to 21.
A break from Aled Davies, who off-loaded to Emyr Phillips saw the Scarlets inches from the try line before Morgan Allen’s replacement Tom Phillips squeezed over to draw the game at 21 points all before Dan Jones added the conversion to give the Scarlets the lead since Bath began their try fest – 23 points to 21.
A dangerous tackle on Dan Jones resulted in Rhys Priestland being shown a yellow card and despite the option of an easy kick in front of the posts to kick for the corner. It proved to be the right decision as the forwards drove forward with captain Emyr Phillips claiming the try. Dan Jones again added the conversion as the Scarlets’ lead became 30 points to 21.
An immense effort from the forwards as a unit saw them entering the final minutes with yet another try scored as Jack Condy squeezed over for try number 4. The conversion from Dan Jones saw the game end with both kickers maintaining their 100% kicking record as the Scarlets scored 28 un-answered points in the second half. But they weren’t finished there as Condy claimed his
second with just seconds left on the clock. Billy McBryde added the conversion, the last kick of the game to give a final score of Scarlets 44, Bath 21 to increase the Scarlets’ second half tally to 35 unanswered points.
By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies
The Scarlets opened their Anglo-Welsh Cup this season with a home fixture against Bath. Following a break last season due to the World Cup, the competition makes a return this season, aiming to give the development players the opportunity to play at a higher level.
An unfamiliar Scarlets side took the field in the unfamiliar setting of just the South Stand being open in Parc y Scarlets as the home team welcomed their visitors, not only playing for a first-round win, but also the famous ‘Rag Doll’ that hung from the upright of the posts.
The Scarlets opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty to lead 3 – 0 as the men in red enjoyed much of the possession and territory in the opening minutes of the game.
Bath were unable to take advantage of their visit into the Scarlets’ 22 and yet again the defensive performance from the home team proved to be effective.
Despite pressing for the first try of the evening, the Scarlets opted to kick for the 3 points following a penalty for a professional foul to double their lead to 6 points to 0.
However, it was Bath that scored the opening try of the day with Prop Max Lahiff sneaking over in the corner to touch down. Rhys Priestland, a familiar face making his first return to the Parc y Scarlets added the tricky conversion to give the visitors the lead, 6 points to 7.
The confidence of the Bath team was evident as they tested the Scarlets defence before Lahiff claimed his brace of tries in a matter of minutes. Priestland made no mistake with the conversion from in front of the posts to extend his new team’s lead to 6 points to 14.
A penalty for a high tackle offered Dan Jones the opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the Scarlets 9 – 14, but it wasn’t long before Bath were in for their third. Excellent hands saw Wing Jeff Williams stroll in unopposed in the corner. Priestland maintained his 100% kicking record and gave Bath a strong half time lead of 9 point to 21.
The Scarlets began the second half well, working through the phases and crossing the gain line with ease, however they fell foul of the referee’s whistle on more than one occasion which met with a thunderous booing from the crowd.
The Scarlets finally scored their first try of the evening following a penalty kick to the corner, securing the line-out and working through the phases before Flanker Josh Macleod crossed the whitewash. Dan Jones added the conversion to narrow the gap significantly to 16 points to 21.
A break from Aled Davies, who off-loaded to Emyr Phillips saw the Scarlets inches from the try line before Morgan Allen’s replacement Tom Phillips squeezed over to draw the game at 21 points all before Dan Jones added the conversion to give the Scarlets the lead since Bath began their try fest – 23 points to 21.
A dangerous tackle on Dan Jones resulted in Rhys Priestland being shown a yellow card and despite the option of an easy kick in front of the posts to kick for the corner. It proved to be the right decision as the forwards drove forward with captain Emyr Phillips claiming the try. Dan Jones again added the conversion as the Scarlets’ lead became 30 points to 21.
An immense effort from the forwards as a unit saw them entering the final minutes with yet another try scored as Jack Condy squeezed over for try number 4. The conversion from Dan Jones saw the game end with both kickers maintaining their 100% kicking record as the Scarlets scored 28 un-answered points in the second half. But they weren’t finished there as Condy claimed his
second with just seconds left on the clock. Billy McBryde added the conversion, the last kick of the game to give a final score of Scarlets 44, Bath 21 to increase the Scarlets’ second half tally to 35 unanswered points.
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