Scots On Top

Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 16 Llanelli Scarlets Meadowbank   Att: 2,643 Referee: Alistair McKay Friday 10th October 2003, 19:30

Edinburgh leapfrogged Llanelli to claim top spot in the Celtic League after a hard-fought 25-16 win over Llanelli at a blustery Meadowbank.

For long spells it looked as if the Gunners' domination of possession would count for nothing as the streetwise Scarlets used all their know-how to stay in touch. However, home stand-off Ally Warnock atoned for several missed kicks with a try double to give the Scots a deserved triumph. Llanelli took just three minutes to open the scoring, Salesi Finau sending Lee Byrne over, for Gareth Bowen to convert. However, after Bowen and Edinburgh counterpart Warnock had traded penalties, the home side stormed ahead with two tries in quick succession. Winger Simon Webster was first to breach the Scarlets defence from Alan Jacobsen's pass and five minutes later Warnock finished off a fine move involving Ally Hogg and Graeme Burns. However, Warnock's failure to convert either try enabled Michael Phillips to level the match with a drop goal on the stroke of half-time. The Gunners, who had enjoyed the bulk of first half possession, showed no sign of easing up on the restart and they notched their third try through former Scotland centre Craig Joiner. Warnock converted before Bowen reduced the lead to 20-16 with a long range penalty for the Scarlets. However, Warnock sealed a famous win for Edinburgh when he broke through on the blind side to touch down with just a few minutes remaining

Edinburgh Rugby V Llanelli Scarlets   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   Derrick Lee 15 Lee Byrne 1 1 Simon Webster 14 Tal Selley 1 Craig Joiner 13 Matthew Watkins Tom Philip 12 Salesi Finau Hugo Southwell 11 Richard Rees 1 1 2 Ali Warnock 10 Gareth Bowen 1 2 Graeme Burns 9 Mike Phillips 1 Allan Jacobsen 1 Phil John Andrew Kelly 2 Rhys Williams Joel Brannigan 3 John Davies Guy Perrett 4 Adam Jones Alastair Kellock 5 James Griffiths Todd Blackadder 6 Vernon Cooper Allister Hogg 7 Gareth Williams Andrew Dall 8 Emyr Lewis Replacements Carlo Di Ciacca 16 David Maddocks Craig Smith 17 Adam Yelland Alasdair Strokosch 18 Bryn Griffiths Simon Cross 19 Ian Boobyer Rory Lawson 20 Dale Burn Marcus Di Rollo 21 Ceiron Thomas Conan Sharman 22 Gavin Evans Penalty Tries 0 0

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