The Scarlets were made to fight all the way for the win, and indeed trailed at the interval thanks to a hat-trick of tries by flying winger Raf Taylor.
The challenges that lay ahead for the team in red seemed far away when on when slick handling by the Scarlets backline released winger Brittony Price, who showed great strength and speed to score in the corner.
Outstanding Blues centre Tatyana Heard snapped up a loose ball and fed her three-quarters putting winger Taylor away on a 50-metre sprint to score under the posts. Stafford adding the extras.
Barley five minutes later, Blues scrum half Rhiannon Parker’s blind side snipe put Taylor in at the corner.
The Scarlets needed a response and got it virtually from the kick off. The strong running from the Scarlets pack drew the Blues cover defence in creating an overlap which the Scarlets gleefully accepted when Price raced in for her and her team’s second try of the game.
On 24 minutes, some inconsistent passing from the home team backs was intercepted by Blues centre Cerys Ballett, who outstripped the cover defence to score an excellent opportunistic try. Stafford once again converted giving the Blues a 19-10 lead.
Scarlets captain Jodie Evans reduced the deficit with a well taken penalty. But within minutes, Taylor scored her third try.
From the restart the Scarlets went on the attack in a desperate attempt to reduce the arrears before half time. Some strong running from the red pack once again put the Scarlets on the front foot. The ball found its way to veteran full back Karen Mayze, who demonstrated some excellent footwork and a mean hand off to score near the posts and give the Scarlets a much needed life line.
The power of the home pack was evident throughout the first half, but a tactical change in the game plan of the Scarlets saw it come to the fore. The scrummaging power was making significant inroads into the possession and territory of the Blues. This was only enhanced by the introduction of the impressive young prop Gwenllian Pyrs.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Scarlets reduced the deficit further. After several dynamic driving lineouts, Number 8, Natalie Walsh powered her way over the Blues line to record a bonus point for the home team.
From the kickoff the Scarlets pack once again took control of the game. A series of strong driving runs put the Scarlets deep inside Blues territory. The Blues conceded a penalty from another dominant Scarlets scrum, captain, Jodie Evans opted to put the ball into the corner.
The dominant Scarlets scrum powered its way over the Blues line and allow No. 8 Walsh to ground the ball and put the home team into the lead for the first time since the tenth minute of the game. A lead which they held on to until the final whistle.
Next Sunday all roads lead to Ystrad Mynach as both the senior and Under 18’s squads will be seeking to retain their respective regional championship titles.
