SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REPORTS

Scarlets 21-38 Glasgow: Warriors hit the Scarlets for six as Barclay makes his point



Published Date: 05 April 2009
By Ian Jeevons at Parc Y Scarlets
GLASGOW produced one of their best ever displays in the Magners League to revive their hopes of a top three-finish for the first time.
The Warriors bagged six tries on their debut at Parc y Scarlets – with John Barclay using his Scotland snub as a spur to a stirring performance.

Flanker Barclay was justifiably furious after being dropped by then national coach Frank Hadden before the Calcutta Cup clash with England. And he proved a point by grabbing two of the touchdowns and setting up another.

Winger Thom Evans also boosted his Lions credentials with a marvellous double.

The opening sparring session was predictably jittery with both sides making basic mistakes.

Scarlets were the first to threaten when Stephen Jones launched an up-and-under into the danger zone, but stand-in full-back Colin Gregor defused the bomb superbly.

Glasgow made the most of their reprieve as they silenced the crowd with a burst off three brilliant tries.

Lome Fa'atau was the destroyer-in-chief at the opener as he left the home defence standing with a mazy 60-metre cruise.

His outside pass to Thom Evans was perfectly directed and weighted for the new Scotland cult hero to evade the last marker and dive over in the corner.

The conversion was from the widest possible angle, but Gregor made it look so easy.

Gregor was back in the spotlight to set up the second score with a cheeky dash through a midfield gap.

The ball was slickly recycled twice before Barclay powered over.

Stephen Jones temporarily halted the Llanelli rot with a simple penalty, but within a couple of minutes the Warriors had breached their defence yet again.

Thom Evans created the time and space for Graeme Morrison to link with the fired-up Barclay, making his first appearance since the Six Nations defeat by Ireland.

He produced a dazzling sidestep en route to the line, handing Gregor a formality of a conversion.

Jones was on-target again for the shellshocked home troops, however Glasgow continued to look the hungrier and more composed outfit.

And they made sure of a precious bonus point with another touchdown on the half-hour mark.

Barclay was again in the thick of it, gathering clean line-out ball before sending prop Moray Low galloping over gleefully from 10 metres out. Gregor calmly converted. Shell-shocked Scarlets stepped up their act in the build-up to the interval and earned a glimmer of hope with a Gavin Evans score.

Jones missed the conversion – but banged over a penalty to give Glasgow a further jolt.

The Warriors responded in the most positive fashion possible by snapping up their fifth try just two minutes after the restart.

Fa'atau delivered a deft chip behind the home backline and Max Evans reached it first to give himself a stroll to the line from 25 metres – and Gregor a simple kick.

Daffyd Jones hauled Scarlets back into the reckoning with a great solo try, goaled by Stephen Jones.

But Thom Evans again underlined his slipperiness by completing his double at the other end after pouncing on a loose ball.

The pressure was back on the Warriors, however, when Kelly Brown was yellow carded for a professional foul.

But they defended heroically to preserve their advantage when it mattered most.

Scarlets: D Evans; M Jones, J Davies, G Evans, D James; S Jones (capt), M Roberts; I Thomas, M Rees, D Manu, V Cooper, D Day, J Turnbull, D Lyons, D Jones.

Subs: P John, K Owens, L Reed, R McCusker, G Cattle, R Priestland, D Daniel.

Glasgow: C Gregor; L Fa'atau, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; R Jackson, M McMillan; K Tkachuk, D Hall, M Low, T Barker, A Kellock (capt), J Eddie, K Brown, J Barclay.

Subs: F Thomson, E Kalman, D Turner, C Forrester, D Parks, C Shaw, P Horne.

Scorers: Scarlets – Try: G Evans, D Jones. Con: S Jones. Pens: S Jones 3. Glasgow – Tries: T Evans 2, Barclay 2, Low, M Evans. Cons: Gregor 4.

This article was originally posted on 5-Apr-2009, 06:40 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 5-Apr-2009, 07:04.