Scarlets 22 Cardiff Blues 16
Saturday 17 November 6.30pm kick off
The Blues were looking to build on last weekend’s victory over London Wasps in this round two fixture of the LV=Cup played at Parc Y Scarlets.
It was the home side that got the first points of the evening with a well-taken penalty slotted by Gareth Owen, following an earlier miss, and it was Scarlets who were dominating the early territory and possession.
However, the Blues got the first try of the night. Gareth Davies broke on the blindside and threw a dummy that fooled the defence. He timed his pass well to Gavin Evans who himself drew a man before putting in Hamilton to score under the posts. Davies converted.
The Blues were putting some nice patterns together with some slick hands and support play creating space. They worked their way all the way to the Scarlets try-line but somehow the ball was turned over and the home team cleared. However, the Blues won another penalty and Davies slotted the points.
The Blues were dealt a blow when Sam Hobbs was yellow carded for a late shoulder charge on Liam Williams but despite being a man down, they were still looking dangerous with Thomas Young and Luke Hamilton combining well in the back-row. Davies slotted another penalty to bring the score to 3-13.
Eventually the one-man disadvantage proved the downfall. With a man short in the scrum, the Scarlets shoved the Blues back from 5 yards and the referee immediately awarded a penalty try that Owen again converted.
The Scarlets did threaten again when Fenby intercepted a pass from Rob Lewis but Owen Williams showed his pace to track back and tackle. However, they did level the scores with Liam Williams slotting a well-taken penalty.
Half time Scarlets 13 Cardiff Blues 13
Gareth Davies put the Blues back ahead with a long-range penalty just after the break and the Blues brought on Lloyd Williams and Fau Filise to add a bit of experience.
The Scarlets had a chance to take the lead when Fenby gathered a well-placed crossfield kick on the right and the Scarlets worked their way to within yards of the try-line, before some solid defence drove them back.
Again the Scarlets attacked with Liam Williams putting in a neat grubber that was almost impossible to defend; Dan Fish being forced over in the corner. The Scarlets won clean lineout ball and eventually spread the ball wide to the right where Liam Williams slid over but dropped the ball as he went to touch down. Tom James and Harry Robinson doing well to get under him and prevent the try.
However, substitute Aled Thomas slotted three penalties for the Scarlets in the last 15 minutes and the Blues again lost a man to the sin bin with Luke Hamilton being shown a yellow card for a technical offence.
Sweeney was unlucky not to close the gap with his penalty kick hitting the post and the crossbar but the Scarlets did enough to hold on for the win.
Cardiff Blues 15. Dan Fish 14. Harry Robinson 13. Owen Williams (69off) 12. Gavin Evans 11.Tom James 10. Gareth Davies (60off) 9. Robert Lewis (43off)
8. Andries Pretorius 7. Thomas Young (69off) 6. Luke Hamilton 5. James Down 4. Macauley Cook (70off) 3 Ryan Harford (43off) 2 Marc Breeze (52off) 1. Sam Hobbs
16. Rhys Williams (52on)17 Campese Mafu’u 18 Taufa’ao Filise (43on) 19 Cory Hill (70on) 20 Rory Watts-Jones (69on) 21 Lloyd Williams (43on) 22. Ceri Sweeney (60on) 23. Rhys Patchell (69on)
Scarlets 15 Liam Williams, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Gareth Owen, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Dan Newton, 9 Rhodri Williams
1 Shaun Hopkins, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Johan Snyman, 6 Craig Price, 7 Johnathan Edwards (capt), 8 Kieran Murphy.
16 Emyr Phillips 17 Phil John 18 Jacobie Adriaanse 19 Joel Galley 20 Dan Thomas 21 Gareth Davies 22 Aled Thomas 23 Nick Reynolds.
Cardiff Blues
Pen Davies x 1
Tries Hamilton x 1
Con Davies x 1
D/G
Scarlets
Pen Owen x 1 Williams x 1 Thomas x 3
Tries Penalty Try x 1
Con Owen x 1
D/G
Yellow Cards: Sam Hobbs, Luke Hamilton
Attendance: 6,469