Scarlets Stay In Second Spot

Llanelli Scarlets 36 - 20 The Borders Racecourse Ground   Att: 5,060 Referee: David Keane Saturday 1st November 2003, 14:30

The Llanelli Scarlects finally won a Celtic League bonus point as they cemented second place on the table with a win over bottom-placed Borders.

League rugby arrived in Wrexham for the first time yesterday, and fans used to 1-0 scorelines must have wondered what was going on as the Scarlets ran up a 25-6 lead by halftime at the Racecourse. The Stradey Park side went into the match as hot favourites against a Borders side with only one win to their name, but had to dig deep as four forwards were injured in the opening hour of the match. Talented young scrum-half Mike Phillips had to pack down in the backrow for the final 15 minutes. Borders fullback Gareth Morton slotted the first Celtic League points at the Racecourse with a third-minute penalty goal, but a great run from under-rated winger Richard Rees set up a Scarlets' forward drive and hooker Aled Gravelle emerged from the pile-up with the five points. Gareth Bowen continued his fine season with a sideline conversion and took his team's tally to 10 points in as many minutes as it started to look like being a long afternoon for the League's cellar dwellers. A clever cut-out pass from Watkins put fullback Barry Davies in acres of space and winger Tal Selley was on hand to take the pop-up pass for his fifth try of the season. Bowen, the League's top points-scorer, twisted the knife with a penalty goal from the halfway line, and Quinnell powered over from close range after Morton was yellow-carded for taking Bowen out late. Morton arrived back on the field in time to double his team's score with a second penalty goal, but it was all uphill for the Scottish side as they went into the break down 6-25. Rees earned his team's first bonus point of the season with a well-taken try, but five-pointers to Borders prop George Graham and scrum-half Chris Cusiter narrowed the margin as the Scarlets ' injuries began to bite.

Llanelli Scarlets V The Borders   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   Barry Davies 15 Gareth Morton 2 2 1 Richard Rees 14 Cameron Murray 1 Tal Selley 13 Jono Stuart Matthew Watkins 12 Kevin Utterson Salesi Finau 11 Andrew Turnbull 4 2 Gareth Bowen 10 Clark Laidlaw Dale Burn 9 Chris Cusiter 1 Phil John 1 George Graham 1 1 Aled Gravelle 2 Ross Ford John Davies 3 Geoff Cross Vernon Cooper 4 Scott Macleod Adam Jones 5 Colin Stewart Emyr Lewis 6 Campbell Feather Ian Boobyer 7 Daniel Kane 1 Scott Quinnell 8 Tony Walker Replacements David Maddocks 16 Steve Scott Rhys Williams 17 Craig Dunlea Bryn Griffiths 18 Doddie Weir Gareth Williams 19 Alastair Davidson Mike Phillips 20 Iain Fairley Ceiron Thomas 21 Scott Paterson Lee Byrne 22 Calum MacRae Penalty Tries 0 0

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