By Lestyn - 11/10/03
October 13 2003

In the shadow of the World cup the Celtic League is still going. The Blues weren't impressive but still scraped a win against Leinster. Also on Friday, up in Edinburgh the injury ravaged Scarlets were knocked off the top spot of the league. Elsewhere the Ospreys comfortably defeated the Warriors

Good old crazy Dan Baugh was up to his old tricks in the Blues 22-3 win over Leinster at the Arms Park. He was extremely lucky not to see red let alone avoid a second yellow card for a stray fist. Even if he does miss the occasional ten minutes, without him the Blues are in truth clueless. 

Had it not been for the Cannuck's relentless assault on anything that moved in dark blue and his two tries, Leinster may have been more in the game. Apart from a purple patch when the two tries were scored, Dai Young's side one again lacked the cutting edge and conviction to convert possession into points.

Elsewhere It was not a good night for the Scarlets, who lost their unbeaten record in the league at a blustery Meadowbank. A late try from Edinburgh outside half Ally Warnock in the second half, made up for his earlier failing's to convert his sides dominance. But it could have been a different story, with stand in full back Lee Byrne touching down after only three minutes and the game was tied 13-13 at half time.

In fairness to the Turks they do have a lot of injuries, but a home defeat to the Blues next Saturday would completely end any of the early season optimism at Stradey Park. Without the battle hardened stalwarts, it would be fair to say the Scarlets are lacking the experience and toughness to pull off results. Without the injured quartet of Leigh Davies, Scott Quinnell, Barry Davies and the ball killing Ian Boobyer, they were always bound to struggle. 

In the all Welsh match, two tries either side of half time from wing Gareth Morris gave the Ospreys a deserved win at the Brewery Field. The boot of Gavin Henson had a big influence on proceedings with, kicking 22 points. It must have been frustrating for Lyn Howell's, after another Henson penalty in injury time snatched away his sides bonus point. But the Warriors didn't really deserve even one point, after a good start they fell away and were well and truly stuffed in midfield, typically Scott Gibbs took advantage of the lightweight Matthew Nutthall and Shaun James centre partnership.

The game was very stop start and very much dictated by the ref's whistle, also the crowd was pretty mediocre considering the quality of players on display. The cunning plan to kick off at the same time as all the feeder clubs involved, was certainly one even Baldrick wouldn't have been proud off.

Ireland's two biggest provinces continue to struggle without their World cup players. Munster did the once unthinkable and lost at home again. A penalty in the seventh minute of injury time handed Ulster a 16-15 win at Musgrave park, the home side had taken the lead in the same fashion four minutes earlier. Connacht predictably overwhelmed Borders 42-19 in Galway, to move into joint third place which indecently they share with both Ulster and the Ospreys.

At last one of the regions appear to have heeded my advice on message board and started playing games on Sunday's. Those not so Gwently Dragons host Glasgow at Rodney Parade tomorrow.