Exiles stutter at the Parc y Scarlets
Two tries each from flank Rob McCusker and centre Jonathan Davies helped the Scarlets to derail London Irish’s Heineken Cup plans and record a 31-22 victory at the Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon.
The home side were trailing at the break, 15-10, but should good resolve to come back and secure a big win for their home fans to celebrate.
Victory did nothing really for either side’s hopes of reaching the last eight as reigning champions Leinster, who travel to Twickenham to play London Irish next weekend, lead the table by five points with the one match remaining.
London Irish had looked to be cruising when they led Scarlets 22-10 in the second-half but McCusker showed electric pace in the 63rd minute to touch down in the corner – after London Irish flyhalf Ryan Lamb had made a poor clearance.
A few minutes later McCusker was on hand again, taking the ball and despite a desperate tackle by former England scrum-half Peter Richards, he turned and twisted his way over the line for a try which was confirmed by the video referee.
The English side had few chances to get back into the lead and the one time they did saw replacement Australian flyhalf Chris Malone waste it with a pass behind his teammates’ backs when they had an overlap.
Scarlets rubbed it in when impressive young centre Jonathan Davies went over for his second try of the match to give the Welsh side a deserved if surprising bonus point and left London Irish requiring a miracle of not only beating Leinster but also with a bonus point if they to progress as pool winners.
AFP
The Scorers
For Scarlets
Tries: Davies, McCusker 2
Pen: Priestland
Cons: Priestland 3
For London Irish
Tries: Homer, Paice, Hala’Ufia
Pen: Lamb
Cons: Lamb 2
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Morgan Stoddart, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons, 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Rob McCusker, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements:16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Jamie Corsi, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Jon Edwards, 21 Lee Williams, 22 Daniel Newton, 23 Gareth Maule.
London Irish:15 Delon Armitage, 14 Peter Hewat, 13 Elvis Seveali’i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Tom Homer, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala’Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Richard Thorpe, 5 Bob Casey, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 Danie Coetzee, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 Kieran Roche, 20 Gary Johnson, 21 John Rudd, 22 Peter Richards, 23 Chris Malone.
Referee: Jerome Garces
