Match Report: Scarlets 25-52 Leinster

30th January 2021 Ben Jones Student Work 0
Parc y Scarlets - Pic by James Dodd

by Ben Jones

DOMINANT Leinster put up a half century, running in six tries as they condemned the Scarlets to their third consecutive loss.

On his 50th appearance for the Scarlets, Uzair Cassiem led his side out to face the champions Leinster on a cold Llanelli night.

It was the Welsh side who were quickest out of the blocks. A flurry of quick passes resulted in the visitors being penalised for off their feet at the ruck. Debutant Sam Costelow kicked the three points within the first five minutes to open the scoring.

Then came a mistake by Ryan Conbeer. The winger tried to catch the onrushing attackers out when he picked the ball up from five metres out but he was stopped and penalised for not releasing. It would result in a Leinster try as Dan Leavy touched down from a metre out. The extra points were added by Harry Byrne.

The Scarlets hit back immediately through a fantastic try. The ball was turned over in midfield and after a few phases, Costelow set Cassiem free who had Blacker running alongside him. The pass was inch perfect and the scrum half slid in for the score. Costelow kicked the extras and the home side took a 10-7 lead.

The lead didn’t last long however as Leinster added their second try. First a penalty was awarded and the visitors kicked for the corner. The line out was won and then the rolling maul was on. It was too strong for the efforts of the Scarlets defence and hooker James Tracy touched down for the score.

The game was end to end and the Scarlets were taking it to their Irish opponents, as shown by captain Steff Hughes’ break. The two sides traded penalties as the game closed in on half time.

There was still time for two more tries for the visitors however. First, a carbon copy of their first as a driving maul resulted in a penalty try and Cassiem being sent to the bin on his 50th appearance.

The second, Luke McGrath attacked down the short side from a lineout, giving the ball to Cian Kelleher who crossed the whitewash. Byrne’s perfect conversion ended the half as his side were up 31-13, with the bonus point secured.

The first ten minutes of the second period were quiet compared to the first 40. It would be Irish side that scored the first points of the half as they added their fifth try of the game.

The Scarlets’ defence stood strong on the try line for ten phases but it was the eleventh that would break them as McGrath had the simplest of pickups to go over. Byrne remained perfect with the successful conversion.

Just past the hour mark, the Scarlets scored their second try. Tyler Morgan’s sudden change of pace left the chasing Leinster defenders for dead, with the centre having the whereabouts to find teammate Will Homer inside who ran it in for the score.

The conversion was missed but then came a proud moment for 19 year old Carwyn Tuipulotu, who came on for his Scarlets senior debut.

Their joy was short lived however as full back Max O’Reilly scored on an emphatic run. He picked the ball up around 35 metres out and stepped his way to the try line for the score. Byrne did what he’d done all game and added the extras.

The next few minutes were quiet considering the way the game had gone as each side had attacks that broke down rather quickly.

The Champions weren’t finished with the scoring and they brought up their half century through a try from David Hawkshaw. His speed out wide beat the Scarlets defence and Byrne kicked the conversion to make it 52-18.

Angus O’Brien and the Scarlets had one last try in them as the replacement fly half did it all by himself, picking the ball up and dancing through defenders and sprinting to the try line. He added the extras himself as the Welsh side fell to a 52-25 defeat, and their third consecutive loss.

Next up for the Scarlets is Benneton at home on February 20 and for Leinster, they visit Wales once more to face the Dragons on February 19.

SCARLETS: 15) Johnny McNicholl; 14) Tom Prydie, 13) Tyler Morgan, 12) Steff Hughes (C), 11) Ryan Conbeer; 10) Sam Costelow, 9) Dane Blacker; 1) Phil Price, 2) Marc Jones, 3) Javan Sebastian, 4) Morgan Jones, 5) Sam Lousi, 6) Blade Thomson, 7) Dan Davis, 8) Uzair Cassiem

Replacements: 16) Taylor Davies, 17) Kemsley Mathias, 18) Werner Kruger, 19) Tevita Ratuva, 20) Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21) Will Homer, 22) Angus O’Brien, 23) Paul Asquith.

LEINSTER: 15) Max O’Reilly; 14) Cian Kelleher, 13) Liam Turner, 12) Ciarán Frawley, 11) Dave Kearney; 10) Harry Byrne, 9) Luke McGrath (C); 1) Peter Dooley, 2) James Tracy 3) Tadhg Furlong, 4) Ross Molony, 5) Ryan Baird, 6) Josh Murphy, 7) Dan Leavy, 8) Jack Conan

Replacements: 16) Seán Cronin, 17) Ed Byrne, 18)Tom Clarkson, 19) Jack Dunne, 20) Scott Fardy, 21) Hugh O’Sullivan, 22) David Hawkshaw, 23) Jamie Osborne.

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