Welsh Rugby Union
Celtic League Round 11 Report
By Editor Paul
November 29 2004
Newport Gwent Dragons failed to reduce the deficit between themselves and league leaders Neath Swansea Ospreys, as their Autumn slump continued losing away to Connacht. 14 points from out half Paul Warwick and an early score from former Newport wing Matt Mostyn gave the Irish side a 19-14 win.
Although Gareth Baber pulled a score back, the captain could not prevent his side slipping to their third defeat in a row.
Llanelli Scarlets came back from a poor opening forty minutes, which saw Gareth Bowen continue his poor run with the boot, missing four attempts at goal to leave his side trailing 3-6 after forty frustrating minutes. However Bowen found his rhythm in the second half, land four penalties and converting prop Phil Johns' close range try as the Scarlets ran out with a 22-9 victory to move above Cardiff Blues in the race for Heineken cup qualification.
Cardiff Blues fell to yet another disappointing away defeat in Scotland to Borders. Having taken a 25-10 lead as late as the fifty minutes, Dai Young's side capitulated in embarrassing fashion, leaking three tries in only six minutes, giving Borders their first league win of the season.
Neath look certainties to be crowned Premiership champions, following a 37-13 win over second placed Newport,
their fourteenth in a row. Nearest title challengers Llanelli slipped up at Aberavon, a 27-23 bringing an end to their ten match unbeaten
streak.
Match Details:
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Connacht 19-14 Newport Gwent Dragons
28th November, Attendance: 1,350
Connacht - M Mostyn; J Meagher (E Elwood 54), D Yapp, J Downey, C McPhillips; P Warwick, C Keane; D McFarland (F Hogan 75), J Fogarty (B Jackman 58), S Knoop C Short, A Farley J Muldoon (M Swift 71), M Lacey, J O'Sullivan.
Tries: Mostyn Pens: P Warwick 3 Cons: P Warwick Drop: P Warwick
Dragons - K Morgan; G Wyatt, S Tuipulotu, S Winn, N Brew (K Crawford 57); C Warlow, G Baber; R Snow, J Richards (S Jones 60), R Thomas (A Black 65), I Gough (R Beattie 60), P Sidoli J Ringer, J Forster, R Oakley.
Tries: Baber, Pens: Warlow 3
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Llanelli Scarlets 22-9 Ulster
28th November, Attendance: 5,334
Llanelli Scarlets: B Davies; G Evans (capt), T Selley, S Finau, A Havili; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, A Gravelle, J Davies, A Jones, C Wyatt, J Mills, G Thomas, D Hodges. Replacements: D Williams, M Rees, V Cooper, I Cunningham, C McDonald, A Thomas, G Evans.
Try: Phil John Con: Gareth Bowen Pens: Gareth Bowen (5)
Ulster: B Cunningham, T Bowe, J Bell, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore, G Longwell, R Frost, M McCullough, N Best, C Feather (capt). Replacements: N Brady, B Young, R Wilson, G Pfister, N Doak, S Young, T Howe.
Pens: Adam Larkin (3)
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Borders 35-25 Cardiff Blues
26th November, Attendance: 900
Borders: G Morton; S Moffat, C MacRae, C Hore, S Danielli; A Warnock, J Weston; T McGee( Anderson 75), R Ford, G
Cross, M Blair, C Stewart, S Gray(Capt) (J Dalziel 40), W McEntee ( A Miller 45), K Brown.
Tries: Weston, MacRae, Warnock, Brown. Pens: Warnock 2, Hore. Cons: Warnock 3.
Cards: Warnock (Yellow)
Cardiff Blues: M Nuthall; F Tuilagai, S James, T Davies, C Morgan(Capt); L Thomas, R Powell( R Smith 55); A Lewis (J Yapp75),
R Thomas, M Jones ( B Evans 75), D Jones, N Budgett (Sidoli 76), N Thomas, R Sowden-Taylor, J Malpas.
Tries: Sowden-Taylor, Powell, Morgan. Pens: Thomas 2. Cons: Thomas 2.
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Other Results
Celtic League :
Edinburgh 0-11 Munster,
Leinster 22-16 Glasgow
Welsh Premiership:
Aberavon 27 Llanelli 23,
Bedwas 34 Swansea 24,
Bridgend 23 Pontypool 16,
Cross Keys 41 Llandovery 15,
Ebbw Vale 28 Cardiff 3,
Llanharan 22 Caerphilly 19,
Neath 37 Newport 13,
Pontypridd 11 Newbridge 18.