Scarlets show west is best of Welsh in Celtic Cup

CELTIC CUP

THE Scarlets underlined their dominance over their Welsh regional counterparts by completing a clean sweep of domestic matches in the Celtic Cup as they beat Cardiff Blues A 16-12 at the Arms Park.

Since losing their opening game in the revamped tournament to the Ospreys Development side last season, 41-36, they have won ever other regional derby, although the Blues pushed them hard.

A great break by RGC 1404 back-row man Tim Grey paved the way for Wales U20 lock Teddy Williams to race in for his second try of the campaign.

That gave the home side the early lead, but a try by No. 8 Lewys Millin got the Scarlets back on level terms and the conversion from new signing Ryan Lamb took them into the lead.

It was tense and tight throughout, but the experience of Lamb, combined with his reliable boot, kept the visitors’ noses in front.

He kicked two penalties before leaving and then Ioan Hughes added a third to make it 16-5 before the Blues ended their campaign on a high with a try from replacement wing Daf Smith after some clever play from outside half Dan Fish.

Fish added the extras and the Blues earned themselves a losing bonus-point at the death.

The Scarlets once again finished as the top-ranked Welsh region as the Dragons rounded off their season with a 36-24 home triumph over Ospreys Development.

Both sides scored four tries, two apiece in each half, with Dragons full-back Dai Richards bagging the first before former Wales Under-20 stars centre Kieran Williams and scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams replied.

James McCarthy added a second try just before the break to give the Dragons a slender 15-14 lead.

Arwel Robson added two more penalties to his first-half effort after the break and also converted a second try from McCarthy. Rio Dyer than ran in the bonus-point try at the death.

The Ospreys never gave up and were rewarded with a second try from centre Williams and a fourth for wing Dewi Cross.