News

It was a tough encounter at Heywood Lane against a spirited Dragons South side; but a second half blitz secured a win for the visitors in the pouring rain.

The Scarlets West played their opening regional fixture of the campaign at Heywood Lane, Tenby on Sunday 21^st August. The visitors were a spirited Dragons South who made the journey with a large supporting contingent. The opening half was very even with both sides wanting to play expansive rugby. Unfortunately, the conditions to not allow this with driving rain throughout. 

With both sides sharing possession early on it was the Dragons who made the break-through, only for the Scarlets to respond with a finely taken try following a line-break by Dyffryn-Taf centre Ryan Kemble who then fed fellow centre, Preseli's Ilan Phillips who finished under the posts. Greenhill's Harry Rossiter added the conversion. Unfortunately, the Dragons responded immediately to make the score 7-10 entering the final minutes of the half.

The Scarlets continued to add pressure to the Dragons defence and rewarded with a second try before half-time. Impressive Preseli winger, and a year young, Callum Williams scooped up a loose ball and sprinted clear to allow Rossiter to add the conversion and take the West in 14-10 at half-time.

The match was unfortunately a tale of two halves with the Scarlets West, unlike the first half, unable to deal with the horrendous conditions. The Dragons came out and dominated the half with three unanswered tries. The West competed throughout and can be pleased with their first outing of the year. There were many positives to take onto the next game.

Aberaeron's Owen Jones captain's the side from second-row along with Dyffryn-Taf's man of the match Griff Evans. Jones will be eager to put things right in the next fixture.

The West coaching staff will take the positives from the start to their campaign regardless of the defeat although the side will need to learn a valuable lesson in game and condition management as they are to travel East next week to face a strong Blues South.

With a quick turn-around of three days a number of changes will be made to the match-day 23 before a trip to the Cardiff Arms Park on Wednesday 24^th August, 7.15pm KO.

A big thanks to Tenby RFC for the hospitality, the West return to Pembrokeshire Wednesday 7^th September to face the Blues North, 7.15pm KO. 

POBLWC dydd Mercher i Joey Mathias, Ilan Phillips, Iwan Twigg a Tom Renny. (Dean James yn injured)

Courtesy of http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/11545.php#.V7tY1j4rK8o