Llanelli 24 - 9 Melrose: Scots earn Welsh praise for bold show

MELROSE flew back into Scotland yesterday buoyant after a performance that came close to an away win in the British Irish Cup and saw their opponents offering the highest of praise.

"I was really pleased," said club president Mike Dalgetty, "but I do think that the gap (between the sides] is not as big as people say that it is.

"We waited for the first 20 minutes to see how good they were, but they were not any better than us. We probably lost it in the first quarter.

"Llanelli said that we were the more positive team and were glad that they did not play us on the bigger park (the game was switched to Carmarthen].

"We had chances and did not take them and it is what we are learning in the competition. Scottish club rugby is so much better than people say it is and we need a competition that allows our players to believe and have self-belief - and that is the only difference between the teams.

"People will look at the score and say 'we are not good enough', but they do not know what they are talking about. They should be coming and watching. We need to say that we are better than what some people think we are."

Skipper Scott Wight added: "It's the physicality and the speed that's the difference, and we need to step up. We played the conditions well and we were in the game for a long time.

"I think we gave them too much respect but the intensity of the games puts us in good position for the league games."

Melrose battled competitively in terrible conditions and in front of a vociferous home crowd. They handled well and were well worth their three Wight penalties despite losing the try-count 3-0.

Llanelli received three yellow cards but were still able to score the same number of tries, through Matt Gilbert, Aaron Shingler and Liam Williams. Steve Shingler converted all three and added a penalty.

"The more games at this level the better," said Dalgetty. "How we perform and stand up to opponents is what it's all about."

Scorers: Llanelli: Tries: Gilbert, A Shingler, Williams. Cons: S Shingler 3. Pen: S Shingler. Melrose: Pens: Wight (3).

Llanelli: D Newton; J Lewis, N Renolds C Keenan J James; S Shingler, G Davies; S Hopkins, C Hawkins, A Hopkins, A Powell, D Day, A Shingler, N Cudd, M Gilbert. Subs: A Beaujean, R Lawrence, N White, D Eager, A Davies, I Evans, L Williams.

Melrose: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, J Helps, C Hardie; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, J Dalziel, G Elder, D Denton, G Dodds, G Runciman. Subs: R Higgins, G Innes, R Miller, S Johnson, S McCormick, C Jackson, E Ford.

Referee: R Kelly.