League rugby arrived in Wrexham for the first time yesterday, and fans used to 1-0 scorelines must have wondered what was going on as the Scarlets ran up a 25-6 lead by halftime at the Racecourse. The Stradey Park side went into the match as hot favourites against aBorders side with only one win to their name, but had to dig deep as four forwards were injured in the opening hour of the match. Talented young scrum-half Mike Phillips had to pack down in the backrow for the final 15 minutes. Borders fullback Gareth Morton slotted the first Celtic League points at the Racecourse with a third-minute penalty goal, but a great run from under-rated winger Richard Rees set up a Scarlets’ forward drive and hooker Aled Gravelle emerged from the pile-up with the five points. Gareth Bowen continued his fine season with a sideline conversion and took his team’s tally to 10 points in as many minutes as it started to look like being a long afternoon for the League’s cellar dwellers. A clever cut-out pass from Watkins put fullback Barry Davies in acres of space and winger Tal Selley was on hand to take the pop-up pass for his fifth try of the season. Bowen, the League’s top points-scorer, twisted the knife with a penalty goal from the halfway line, and Quinnell powered over from close range after Morton was yellow-carded for taking Bowen out late. Morton arrived back on the field in time to double his team’s score with a second penalty goal, but it was all uphill for the Scottish side as they went into the break down 6-25. Rees earned his team’s first bonus point of the season with a well-taken try, but five-pointers to Borders prop George Graham and scrum-half Chris Cusiter narrowed the margin as the Scarlets ‘ injuries began to bite.
