


Scarlets centre of the moment Adam Warren scored his third try for the region in his 3rd competitive start in the Scarlets shirt after just two minutes, with young Wales U20 prop Kirby Myhill then going under the posts 16 minutes later. This was backed up by second half tries for Richie Pugh and another Scarlets new-comer no8 Kieran Murphy who scored two tries against Leicester Tigers last weekend.
The Scarlets dominated territory and possession and while there was some senior experience on the field to hinge and cement the performance, some of the brightest sparks of play were provided by the young Scarlets.
It was two youthful sides that took to the pitch on a clear and bright autumn Sunday afternoon in front of a 6,931 Cardiff City Stadium crowd, well populated with Scarlets shirts and proud supporters singing out around the stadium.
The Scarlets took the early lead and a took a grip on the game which they then maintained, with a well-executed try that saw a pop pass from outside-half Aled Thomas to centre Adam Warren who went through unopposed under the posts.
The Scarlets had opted for a strong bench for this fixture and as Simon Gardiner limped off with an injury within the first 20 minutes, Rhys Thomas arrived on the field to add more mettle in the pack.
Thomas converted and then added to the Scarlets lead with a penalty for offside eight minutes later, with the Scarlets in a deserved lead after dominating the game territorially. Scarlets 10 Blues 0.
There was another piece of deft Scarlets' skill to follow in the 18th minute when promising young hooker Kirby Myhill dummied his way over to finish off another substantial period of Scarlets pressure and composure. That was one that the Scarlets water boy for the game - skipper Matthew Rees will have enjoyed!
Thomas pulled the conversion narrowly wide of the posts. Scarlets 15 - Blues 0. That's two tries to the Burry Port Scarlets boys this afternoon.
The game was an all Scarlet affair for the first 30 minutes, with the hosts unable to get any momentum on the game or possession by their pack for their backs to fire from. The Scarlets showed some resolute defence, good set piece momentum as well as ambition to attack.
Just before half time, the Blues got their first meaningful attack in the Scarlets half underway and outside-half Rhys Patchell put his side on the board with a penalty from 30 yards.
Thomas missed a 40-yard chance to put the Scarlets further ahead. A confident and purposeful Scarlets side opted out of a kick from in front of the posts in the last move of the first half, choosing the scrum instead but knocking the ball on going for the line.
Half time: Scarlets 15 Blues 3
The Scarlets made two replacements at half-time with Rhodri Jones coming on for Phil John at Prop and Emyr Phillips for Kirby Myhill at hooker.
Bright Scarlets wing prospect Dale Ford was sadly stretchered off early in the second half with a suspected broken leg - unfortunately the same leg injury that he had just recovered from. He was replaced by Lee Rees.
The first part of the second half was a more scrappy period of play with a number of substitutions from both teams - with the Scarlets making several changes to their team on the field; with Dominic Day, Rhodri Williams, Richie Pugh and Dan Newton all coming on to add to the Scarlets push.
It took until midway through the second half before the Scarlets had a chance to stretch their winning score line further with Aled Thomas notching another penalty kick at goal - this time from 35 yards out. Scarlets 18 Blues 3.
A World Cup returner full of experience and confidence sparked the third Scarlets try, as Scotland centre Sean Lamont opted to take a quick tap penalty in a very kickable position - but with the Scarlets' obvious energy and desire to score tries flowing through the team, the option proved a good one.
With composure and strength, the Scarlets maintained a period of pressure, moving the ball for replacement flanker Richie Pugh to be able to force his way over from short range.
The visitors secured the bonus point with five minutes to spare, Lamont again starting things before replacement outside-half Dan Newton put number eight Murphy over beside the posts. Thomas added the conversion.
A proud Scarlets team who had kept the Tigers away from the try line last weekend wanted to replicate this and keep the Blues to a nil try count but in the last two minutes of the game, the Blues had a cracking chance to score. Up stepped brave young winger Liam Williams who showed plenty of fight and pace in the dying minutes to take his Blues man into touch in the corner.
A convincing win for the Scarlets - the third in a row for heart and soul rugby country supporters to enjoy. A well-deserved away win with a group of young players who showed spirit throughout and dominated territory and possession - not giving the Blues a chance to get into any sort rhythm or pattern.
Full time: Scarlets 30 Cardiff Blues 3.
| No. | Name | T | C | D | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Daniel Fish |
|
||||
| 14 | Richard Mustoe |
|
||||
| 13 | Adam Thomas |
|
||||
| 12 | Cory Allen |
|
||||
| 11 | Harry Robinson |
|
||||
| 10 | Rhys Patchell |
1P |
|
|||
| 9 | Rhys Downes |
|
||||
| 1 | Nathan Trevett |
|
||||
| 2 | Ryan Tyrrell |
|
||||
| 3 | Ryan Harford |
|
||||
| 4 | Cory Hill |
|
||||
| 5 | James Down (capt) |
|
||||
| 6 | Josh Navidi |
|
||||
| 7 | Rhys Shellard |
|
||||
| 8 | Luke Hamilton |
|
||||
| 16 | Marc Breeze |
|
||||
| 17 | Jamie Corsi |
|
||||
| 18 | Thomas Davies |
|
||||
| 19 | Matthew Screech |
|
||||
| 20 | Ellis Jenkins |
|
||||
| 21 | Lewis Jones |
|
||||
| 22 | Lewis K Williams |
|
||||
| 23 | Owen Williams |
|
| No. | Name | T | C | D | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Dan Evans |
|
||||
| 14 | Liam Williams |
|
||||
| 13 | Sean Lamont |
|
||||
| 12 | Adam Warren |
1T |
|
|||
| 11 | Dale Ford |
|
||||
| 10 | Aled Thomas |
2C |
2P |
|
||
| 9 | Gareth Davies |
|
||||
| 1 | Phil John (capt) |
|
||||
| 2 | Kirby Myhill |
1T |
|
|||
| 3 | Simon Gardiner |
|
||||
| 4 | Sione Timani |
|
||||
| 5 | Damian Welch |
|
||||
| 6 | Matt Gilbert |
|
||||
| 7 | Johnathan Edwards |
|
||||
| 8 | Kieran Murphy |
1T |
|
|||
| 16 | Emyr Phillips |
|
||||
| 17 | Rhodri Jones |
|
||||
| 18 | Rhys Thomas |
|
||||
| 19 | Dom Day |
|
||||
| 20 | Richie Pugh |
1T |
|
|||
| 21 | Rhodri Williams |
|
||||
| 22 | Dan Newton |
|
||||
| 23 | Lee Rees |
|
