a full match reportof the LV=Cup game between Scarlets and Saracens at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday Jan 29 2011.a full match reportof the LV=Cup game between Scarlets and Saracens at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday Jan 29 2011.
Matt Stevens brought to an end his two-year wait to play senior competitive rugby as Saracens picked up maximum points at Parc y Scarlets.
Stevens, back from his drugs ban and with renewed vim and vigour according to those at Vicarage Road, had half an hour for the Saracens’ Storm in Monday’s A League fixture against London Wasps. Yesterday afternoon, in front of a typically partisan Llanelli crowd, the former Bath loose head continued his return with another 33 minutes.
There was precious little to do in terms of the contest with Saracens having already accounted for a youthful, but hugely exuberant Scarlets side. Still, with typical dedication to the cause, he made one or two decent contributions with ball in hand and will be all the better for his first serious examination.
“It’s great to have got another game under my belt, that’s what it’s all about at the moment,’’ he said. ''It would not be productive to talk about anything else, like England. I want to concentrate on Saracens and I enjoyed that today.
“I think that’s 17 or 18 scrums now, since I came on last Monday, so it’s still early days. However, I enjoyed having a go on the loose-head and the coaches have told me I will be playing on both sides.”
Stevens, back from his drugs ban and with renewed vim and vigour according to those at Vicarage Road, had half an hour for the Saracens’ Storm in Monday’s A League fixture against London Wasps. Yesterday afternoon, in front of a typically partisan Llanelli crowd, the former Bath loose head continued his return with another 33 minutes.
There was precious little to do in terms of the contest with Saracens having already accounted for a youthful, but hugely exuberant Scarlets side. Still, with typical dedication to the cause, he made one or two decent contributions with ball in hand and will be all the better for his first serious examination.
“It’s great to have got another game under my belt, that’s what it’s all about at the moment,’’ he said. ''It would not be productive to talk about anything else, like England. I want to concentrate on Saracens and I enjoyed that today.
“I think that’s 17 or 18 scrums now, since I came on last Monday, so it’s still early days. However, I enjoyed having a go on the loose-head and the coaches have told me I will be playing on both sides.”
To the credit of both sides, the game was full of energy despite the bitter cold and the depleted Welsh region showed signs of genuine ambition with ball in hand.
With both sides using the game to blood a handful of fresh faces, there was little inhibition. Referee Llyr Ap Geraint-Roberts played his part too and though the game remained scoreless throughout the opening quarter, there was plenty over which to enthuse.
But after Saracens had secured decent line-out ball after 25 minutes, Scarlets were caught offside in front of their own posts and Owen Farrell made no mistake.
The visitors were eight points to the good, at the interval, courtesy of James Short’s try which came with a most outrageous dummy.
Stevens must have been licking his lips in anticipation as Saracens closed off the game, six minutes into the second half. The Scarlets buckled at a scrum under their own posts and scrum-half Kevin Barrett popped up a try-scoring pass for lock Hayden Smith.
Farrell converted and joined in the applause as Stevens left the bench and took his place in the front row. A minute later, fellow replacement Ben Ransom, with his first touch, was in at the posts.
Jamie George increased the advantage with a fourth try, four minutes short of the hour mark and with Scarlets’ talisman David Lyons forced off with a knee injury, the hosts were powerless to prevent Noah Cato from waltzing over unopposed with 15 minutes remaining.
Hooker Emyr Phillips dived in at the feet of the Saracens pack to claim a consolation try 12 minutes from time, but by that time, the visitors were home and dry and celebrating a relatively straightforward victory. For Stevens, it was a welcome opportunity.
Match details
Scoring: 0-3 Farrell pen; 0-8 Short try; 0-15 Smith try, Farrell con; 0-22 Ransom try, Farrell con; 0-27 George try; 0-34 Cato try, Farrell con; 7-34 Phillips try, S Shingler con
Scarlets: D Evans; L Williams (J Randell 69), N Reynolds, R James, J Ajuwa; S Shingler (J Williams 73), M Roberts (G Davies 53); P John (capt), E Phillips, R Thomas (R Jones 53), D Day (D Howells 58), D Welch (V Cooper 53), A Shingler, N Cudd, B Morgan (D Lyons 37, R Lawrence 58)
Saracens: C Wyles; J Short (B Ransom 47), R Penney, O Farrell (N Mordt 69), N Cato; A Goode, K Barrett (N de Kock 47); J Saunders (M Stevens 47), J George (E Reynecke 63-), C Nieto (P du Plessis 52), H Smith, M Botha (T Ryder 65), K Brown (D Barrell 58), J Burger (capt), J Wray
Referee: L Ap Geraint-Roberts (RFU).
Att: 6610
With both sides using the game to blood a handful of fresh faces, there was little inhibition. Referee Llyr Ap Geraint-Roberts played his part too and though the game remained scoreless throughout the opening quarter, there was plenty over which to enthuse.
But after Saracens had secured decent line-out ball after 25 minutes, Scarlets were caught offside in front of their own posts and Owen Farrell made no mistake.
The visitors were eight points to the good, at the interval, courtesy of James Short’s try which came with a most outrageous dummy.
Stevens must have been licking his lips in anticipation as Saracens closed off the game, six minutes into the second half. The Scarlets buckled at a scrum under their own posts and scrum-half Kevin Barrett popped up a try-scoring pass for lock Hayden Smith.
Farrell converted and joined in the applause as Stevens left the bench and took his place in the front row. A minute later, fellow replacement Ben Ransom, with his first touch, was in at the posts.
Jamie George increased the advantage with a fourth try, four minutes short of the hour mark and with Scarlets’ talisman David Lyons forced off with a knee injury, the hosts were powerless to prevent Noah Cato from waltzing over unopposed with 15 minutes remaining.
Hooker Emyr Phillips dived in at the feet of the Saracens pack to claim a consolation try 12 minutes from time, but by that time, the visitors were home and dry and celebrating a relatively straightforward victory. For Stevens, it was a welcome opportunity.
Match details
Scoring: 0-3 Farrell pen; 0-8 Short try; 0-15 Smith try, Farrell con; 0-22 Ransom try, Farrell con; 0-27 George try; 0-34 Cato try, Farrell con; 7-34 Phillips try, S Shingler con
Scarlets: D Evans; L Williams (J Randell 69), N Reynolds, R James, J Ajuwa; S Shingler (J Williams 73), M Roberts (G Davies 53); P John (capt), E Phillips, R Thomas (R Jones 53), D Day (D Howells 58), D Welch (V Cooper 53), A Shingler, N Cudd, B Morgan (D Lyons 37, R Lawrence 58)
Saracens: C Wyles; J Short (B Ransom 47), R Penney, O Farrell (N Mordt 69), N Cato; A Goode, K Barrett (N de Kock 47); J Saunders (M Stevens 47), J George (E Reynecke 63-), C Nieto (P du Plessis 52), H Smith, M Botha (T Ryder 65), K Brown (D Barrell 58), J Burger (capt), J Wray
Referee: L Ap Geraint-Roberts (RFU).
Att: 6610
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