**Scarlets’ Brave URC Play-off Run Ends at Hands of Leinster in Dublin**
The Scarlets’ promising United Rugby Championship (URC) season drew to a close on Saturday as they were defeated 33-21 by a clinical Leinster side at the Aviva Stadium. Despite the disappointment, the Welsh side can reflect on a performance brimming with tenacity, which kept the contest in the balance until late in the match.
Having secured their play-off berth by finishing eighth in the league, the Scarlets knew the task ahead was formidable – facing the tournament’s top seeds and perennial powerhouses was never going to be a gentle conclusion to their campaign. Nonetheless, head coach Dwayne Peel’s men made sure that Leinster had to work hard for their spot in the semi-finals, taking the game to the home side with resilience and flashes of attacking quality.
Leinster made their intentions known almost immediately, with Ireland international James Lowe crossing for the first try in the opening minutes after relentless attacking sequences. That initial surge continued when Jack Conan’s strong running created space, sending Jamison Gibson-Park over for a second Leinster score, and suggesting that the Irish side might run away with the contest early on.
But the Scarlets, determined not to be mere bystanders, gradually grew into the match. Their efforts paid off around the 20-minute mark when an incisive move from a lineout resulted in Tom Rogers exploiting space, showing quick feet to finish superbly for the visitors’ first try. This display of clinical intent ignited confidence amongst the Welshmen, who continued to press and defend stubbornly in the face of Leinster’s multifaceted threats.
Leinster’s Sam Prendergast extended the hosts’ lead with a penalty, but as the first half drew to a close, Scarlets full-back Blair Murray provided what is sure to be remembered as one of the tries of the season. Pouncing on a fumbled pass close to their own line, Murray and his teammates showcased their footballing skills with a length-of-the-pitch effort that left the home faithful in stunned silence. The conversion left the Scarlets trailing by just a single point at the break, 15-14, raising hopes of a significant upset.
After the interval, Leinster once again started strongly, with Jamie Osborne benefitting from a delicate Prendergast chip to put the hosts further ahead – although the legitimacy of the grounding was hotly debated. Injuries and discipline soon became telling factors for the Scarlets, not least when prop Alec Hepburn was shown a yellow card as the pressure from Leinster’s sharper attack intensified.
The home advantage soon told. With the Scarlets reduced to 14, Hugo Keenan sprinted through for Leinster’s fourth try after a crucial charge-down, pushing the lead to what seemed an unassailable margin. Still, the Scarlets’ courage endured as they staged a late rally. A well-worked move saw Johnny Williams touch down, providing a glimmer of hope as the clock headed into the final ten minutes.
However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Vaea Fifita was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, and Prendergast calmly slotted the resultant penalty to secure the win for Leinster. The Scarlets’ spirited fightback proved too late, as the match finally slipped out of their reach.
This result marks the end of the road for the Scarlets in this year’s URC, but there will be pride in how the team has developed over the campaign. Not since 2018 had they graced the play-offs, and despite going out at the first hurdle this time, their improved consistency and ability to trouble the best sides in Europe offer optimism for next season.
Leinster, meanwhile, progress with sights firmly set on yet another title, but even they will acknowledge the test posed by a vastly improved Scarlets outfit. For the Welsh side, attention now turns to building on these foundations through the summer and returning with renewed vigour when the URC resumes.
While defeat in Dublin is a tough way to bow out, the Scarlets leave Ireland with heads held high, having demonstrated that they belong among the league’s playoff contenders once again.