Battling derby display is Glenn’s new year highlight
IT may not have been the prettiest game of rugby, but Scarlets coach Glenn Delaney was more than happy to see in 2021 with a hard-fought derby win against the Dragons on New Year’s Day.
Tries from Sione Kalamafoni and exciting young prospect Sam Costelow proved enough for the West Walians against a Dragons side whose injury worries mounted as Wales back-row hopeful Taine Basham suffered a broken left arm.
“I suppose it was a compelling contest of a different nature,” said Delaney.
“You saw a lot of kicking battles going on, neither team wanted to give the other counter-attacking opportunities.
“I thought defensively we were very resolute, I never felt we were in danger on our goal-line.
“It was a bit stop-start with a couple of dropped balls, but I am delighted to get the win and we did create a bit more in the second half.
“With these derby games I am learning every time we play one, they all seem to be pretty much like this and perhaps bring out the best and worst in us because of the individual competition and contest.
“We would have liked to have done a bit more with the ball, and the attacking breakdown with us was poor. The Dragons turned over a bit of ball so we need to be better in that area and make sure when we make the breaks we are able to capitalise on them.”
Try-scorers Kalamafoni and Costelow earned praise from their coach, the Tongan back-row powerhouse turning in a polished display.
“Sione has been doing that for a long time,” added Delaney.
“The bit that everyone sees is his explosive efforts during the games, the bit people don’t get to see is how he is in the environment around the young lads.
“He is a real galvaniser. We have a couple of great characters in our eights with him and Cass (Uzair Cassiem).
“The boys are enjoying playing with him and he has these big moments in a game and that is why we wanted him to come here.
“We felt he could add to the attacking intent to give us a genuine point of difference and in a game like today when it is the balance you need someone to step up and give us that platform, and I thought he did that very well.
“I thought Blade Thompson went well again and Dan Davis in his first start of the season really complemented them both. The three were a good, balanced unit.”
As for Dragons boss Dean Ryan, he insisted he was proud of his “competitive” side despite the defeat at Parc y Scarlets.
Wales international Jonah Holmes was forced off in the opening half in Llanelli, meaning a back line reshuffle and first Guinness PRO14 appearance for Aneurin Owen.
Basham was also taken off in the opening half hour.
“I was pretty proud of us, given the disruption we had so early,” said Ryan.
“We had three changes in the back line and a 20-year-old kid who has never played in the Guinness PRO14 in a derby against the Scarlets.
“We looked pretty solid, we knew what we were doing and were very physical.
“We also had moments when we could have got into that game.
“We had a big driving lineout and a break from Jack (Dixon) where we should have got something.
“But that is our growth. We are competitive most weeks, irrespective who is on the field.”
He added: “It’s easy to just live off wins and losses, but sometimes that hides some of the good things that are going on.
“Our disruption over the last two or three weeks has been phenomenal.
“We are looking at Tavis (Knoyle) and Josh Lewis now leading the side.
“I said in the changing rooms afterwards that this is one of those weeks when I am really proud to be involved in this set-up and be a Dragon. I can’t allow our lives to go on win and loss. We don’t have the resources that Scarlets have – that showed when their bench wheels off and we are throwing on youngsters.”