Scarlets' Head Back To The Top

The Borders 8 - 41 Llanelli Scarlets Netherdale   Att: 2,000 Referee: Marshall Kilgore Friday 2nd April 2004, 19:30

The Scarlets ran in six tries as they moved back to the top of the Celtic League and threw down the gauntlet to Ulster in the title chase

THE BORDERS 8, LLANELLI SCARLETS 41 The Scarlets got just the boost they needed after last weekend’s home draw with Connacht as they moved back to the top of the Celtic League with this bonus point triumph in Scotland. Back at the ground where they secured a substantial Heineken Cup victory on their way to next weekend’s European quarter-final showdown with Biarrtiz Olympique, the Welshmen proved too strong for the home side. Two tries in the opening six minutes from Welsh internationals Garan Evans and Matthew Watkins settled the Scarlets’ nerves and set them on their way to a vital victory. With six players back on club duty after the RBS Six Nations Championship, the Scarlets’ were back to something like full strength after a difficult seven weeks. Gareth Bowen added a conversion of one of the tries to make it 12-0 in that explosive start, but the home side rallied bravely to cut the deficit to a mere four points by half-time. Former Scotland and Lions scrum half Gary Armstrong went close to scoring a try and a penalty from Tanner Vili and veteran international lock Doddie Weir gave the Netherdale fans every home of an upset at half-time. But the Scarelts came back onto the field in clinical mode and proceeded to demolish their hosts with a four try burst without response. Wales centre Mark Taylor crossed for two tries, Tongan wing Salesi Finau powered over for another and Canadian prop Jon Thiel also got in on the act. Bowen’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking over with three more conversions and a penalty and the Scarlets’ were back on track. Irish referee Marshall Kilgore was kept busy in the second half as he sent four players to the sin-bin. Home skipper Andy Rennick was first to go, Finau followed after throwing a punch and then Iestyn Thomas and Semo Sititi were sent to the sidelines for their part in a mass brawl.

The Borders V Llanelli Scarlets   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   1 Tanner Vili 15 Barry Davies Cameron Murray 14 Garan Evans 1 Gareth Morton 13 Mark Taylor 2 Jono Stuart 12 Matthew Watkins 1 Craig Moir 11 Salesi Finau 1 Clark Laidlaw 10 Gareth Bowen 4 1 Gary Armstrong 9 Dwayne Peel Craig Dunlea 1 Iestyn Thomas Steve Scott 2 Robin McBryde Bruce Douglas 3 John Davies 1 Doddie Weir 4 Vernon Cooper Colin Stewart 5 Chris Wyatt Scott Macleod 6 Dafydd Jones Andy Rennick 7 Simon Easterby Semo Sititi 8 Scott Quinnell Replacements Ross Ford 16 Jon Thiel 1 Geoff Cross 17 Aled Gravelle Alastair Davidson 18 Adam Jones John Dalziel 19 Dave Hodges Chris Cusiter 20 Mike Phillips Iain Fairley 21 Richard Rees Iain Berthinussen 22 Tal Selley Penalty Tries 0 0

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