The Scarlets travelled to The Stoop to face Harlequins in the first round of the LV= Cup. After a hard fought match and an excellent defensive display by the visitors they were cruelly denied a win but did manage to come away with a draw.
Harlequins started strongly with a great opportunity to score a try with and overlap out wide, and David Strettle tackled at the line by Ken Owens to avoid early points on the board for the home side.
Strettle was handed another opportunity this time crossing for the first points of the game. Try converted by Rory Clegg.
Rhys Priestland and Clegg were both unsuccessful with penalty kicks early on in the first half.
Scarlets seemed to settle after being on the back foot after the opening whistle, Priestland was handed a penalty kick in front of the post to open the visitors score card.
With fifteen minutes on the clock Priestland was given a chance at goal from the half way line, he had the distance but couldn’t hit the target.
Morgan Stoddart looked dangerous with the ball in hand and started the Scarlets charge towards the Harlequins’ try line.
The Quins’ defence was solid but were then penalised for hands in the ruck. Priestland once again missed an opportunity to put three points on the board.
Owens looked dynamic as he charged for the line; the Scarlets looked composed as they went through the phases and created an opportunity for Gareth Maule to cross for a try. Converted by Priestland. Harlequins 7 – Scarlets 10.
With only three minutes remaining on the clock Tom Guest was shown a yellow card for lying on the ball in the ruck. The Scarlets saw this as an opportunity to charge for the line with Stoaddart tackled short of the line to keep the Harlequins’ within reach.
The Scarlets came out fighting at the restart with a high kick from Priestland and a great effort by the fly half who charged to the Quins’ line. He was tackled short of the line and didn’t manage to get the pass out to Richie Pugh who was on his right side and had space out wide.
The visitors took advantage of a loose ball and winger Andy Fenby showed good pace and acceleration to cross the line for the Scarlets’ second try. With the Harlequins still without Guest it was evident that the young Scarlets’ confidence was growing.
The home side clawed back three points with a Clegg penalty in front of the uprights.
The Quins worked through the phases and pushed the Scarlets’ defensive effort to the limit. With a pass out wide and space in the corner winger Fenby was no match for second rower George Robson who crossed the line to bring the Quins level with 15 points apiece. Clegg missed the target to secure a lead for the home side once again.
Owens once again looked strong as he charged for the line but a pass back inside went loose and the Scarlets missed an opportunity to take back a crucial lead.
The Quins looked eager and were making the most of ball in hand but could not get passed the Scarlets’ defensive line.
The home side worked through ten or so phases but the young Scarlets side did well to keep them away from their line.
With only ten minutes remaining on the clock the Scarlets were defending well but were most certainly under pressure from the more experienced Quins side.
Following a somewhat debatable high tackle by Simon Gardner the Quins were given an opportunity to take the lead but Clegg was unlucky and didn’t manage to get the ball through the sticks.
A last minute opportunity came for the Scarlets to snatch a win when Stoddart followed a kick, had space in front of him, but was extremely unlucky not to get a tight enough grip of the ball and knocked it on.
The score remained level with the Harlequins recording their third draw of the season.
Man of the Match – Ken Owens
