BRITISH AND IRISH CUP

SCARLETS XV ................ 35 NOTTINGHAM ................ 25

DAI FLANAGAN was delighted after his Scarlets side roared into the British & Irish Cup quarterfinals with a bonus-point victory over Nottingham to finish top of Pool Four.

The game was played on a training pitch after the Parc Y Scarlets surface had been deemed unplayable through frost.

Down 20-12 at the break, the West Walians put together a quality second half to seal a bonus-point win, indebted to a storming forward display from the back row of Tom Phillips, Morgan Allen and Josh Macleod, well supported by lock Josh Helps.

Replacement Billy McBryde who came on as early as the 10th minute was also a key man, scoring a try, three conversions and three penalties for a personal haul of 20 points.

Coaches and back room staff were in buoyant mood after witnessing a fine comeback to turn over the English Championship side.

Head coach Flanagan stressed the importance of the win.

“As a region, we consider the British & Irish Cup a vital part of our players’ development and an important pathway for better things,” he said. “Losing to Richmond at the death last week was part and parcel of what a prospective professional player must confront. Nottingham came with hopes of pipping us for a quarter-final place but we played some terrific rugby to take the spoils.”

The Scarlets are the first of the four regional Premiership Select sides to make it past the pool stages since the new model was introduced instead of the clubs at the start of last season.

The typical hustle-bustle efficiency of an English side had upset the Scarlets in the first half.

A try from full-back Jamie Stephenson and then another No.8 Shane Buckle – after yellow cards for Phillips and prop Nicky Thomas – plus 10 points from the boot of fly half Lawrence Rayner had trumped Scarlet tries from wing Richard Smith and Macleod.

The Scarlets took control in tight and loose in the second half to score 23 points – tries from McBryde and the rampaging Allen taking them clear – before a consolation effort from Stephenson. Scarlets: Tries: R Smith, J MacLeod, B McBryde, M Allen; Cons: B McBryde (3); Pens: B McBryde (3). Nottingham: Tries: J Stephenson (2), S Buckley; Cons: L Rayner (2); Pens: L Rayner (2).