Top Two Face Off

Llanelli Scarlets 27 - 22 Celtic Warriors Stradey Park   Att: 4,875 Referee: Simon McDowell Friday 26th September 2003, 19:05

Llanelli's youngsters proved they are learning fast as the Scarlets held on to win the top of the table clash and take pole position in the Celtic League.

Even in the absence of their international brigade and injured talisman Scott Quinnell, the Scarlets played with their brains as much as their brawn to maintain their unbeaten start to the season even against a vastly more experienced pack. The fact that these two clubs began the game as the top two in the Celtic League and a near 5,000 crowd were testament to the changes brought about in Wales by regional rugby. However the developments have not cured all of the ills within Welsh rugby and the ownership of the Celtic Warriors remains up in the air with one half of the partnership, Pontypridd, having this week gone into voluntary administration. But while half the Warriors could have been forgiven for concerning themselves over the future of the famous Rhondda club, they kept their minds on upsetting the Scarlets. Against a makeshift Llanelli pack that included replacement Gavin Quinnell, the latest product of the rugby dynasty, the Warriors made gains and soon took the lead through Gareth Wyatt. Scarlet wing Tal Selley made a mess of dealing with Neil Jenkins' kick and Wyatt's quickly taken lineout sparked the attack that he finished in the corner. But Warrior indiscipline allowed the home side back in on the stroke of half-time when abrasive openside flanker Cory Harris was shown the yellow card for a late hit on Bowen. Llanelli made their numerical advantage show at the scrum, Mathew Watkins fed full-back Barry Davies to squeeze over in first-time injury-time. Three minutes later and the lead was further stretched when prop Jon Davies barrelled over from a driving lineout for what proved to be the crucial try with Jenkins and Bowen exchanging five penalties apiece.

Llanelli Scarlets V Celtic Warriors   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   1 Barry Davies 15 Gareth Cull Richard Rees 14 Gareth Wyatt 1 Matthew Watkins 13 David Bishop Leigh Davies 12 Shaun James Tal Selley 11 Aisea Havili Kaufusi 5 1 Gareth Bowen 10 Neil Jenkins 1 5 Mike Phillips 9 Paul John David Maddocks 1 Phil Booth Aled Gravelle 2 Andrew Joy 1 John Davies 3 Chris Horsman Bryn Griffiths 4 Deiniol Jones Adam Jones 5 Nathan Budgett Vernon Cooper 6 Richard Parks Ian Boobyer 7 Cory Harris Emyr Lewis 8 Richard Bryan Replacements Phil John 16 Matthew Rees Rhys Williams 17 Martin Jones Gavin Quinnell 18 Ryan Jones Gareth Williams 19 Mark Lewis Dale Burn 20 Jim Donovan Ceiron Thomas 21 Emyr Lewis Salesi Finau 22 Matthew Nuthall Penalty Tries 0 0

All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Martin Stuart