The Women’s Regional Championship will once again come down to a winner takes all shootout between West Wales rivals Ospreys and Scarlets thanks to the Scarlets securing a seven-try-to-one, 35-5 victory away to the Blues at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday.
With both teams entering the encounter with vastly changed teams due to injury and unavailability, the game lacked the fluidity of previous matches in the championship, but this was more than made up for by the aggression and determination of both teams throughout.
The Scarlets got off to a flying start with two early score thanks to full back Jess Kavanagh-Williams and outside half Karen Mayze, answering an SOS call to come out of retirement for the game. A further score from Jennie Collins, playing out of position at centre, gave the visitors a 15-0 lead with 20 minutes on the clock. This in no way disrupted the home team.
The Blues, with former Wales front rower Jenny Davies at the forefront, produced several turnovers at the contact area, this allowed the home backs to string together some attacking passages of play which resulted in outside half, Bethan Davies scoring wide out, giving a half time score of 5-15 to the visitors.
From the restart, the Scarlets were once again on the attack. Scores from winger Angharad de Smet and a second for Mayze stretched the visitors lead.
The cause of the Blues was not helped by the loss of several key players to injury, which resulted in replacements having to play out of position. Despite this, the defence of the home team was resolute in holding out the attacking forays of the team in red.
Ultimately the task proved to be too great for the hosts. Debutant Scarlets winger, Catrina Bowen, with her first touch in regional rugby, and the ever impressive Lowri Harries, both crossing the line to give the Scarlets a 35-5 bonus point win.
In the other game, the Ospreys ensured the final round would be a winner-takes all scenario, by defeating the Dragons 41-10 at St Helen’s.
