Anglo-Welsh Cup
Scarlets target title after Blues rout
ESPNscrum Staff
October 23, 2011
Scarlets lock Dominic Day makes a break, Scarlets v Leicester Tigers, Anglo-Welsh Cup, Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales, October 15, 2011
The Scarlets kicked off their campaign with a win over Leicester in Llanelli last weekend © Getty Images
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Scarlets coach Nigel Davies believes his side are genuine Anglo-Welsh Cup contenders after their 30-3 demolition of Cardiff Blues on Sunday afternoon.

In defeating their regional rivals in the Welsh capital, the Scarlets collected a bonus point for the second successive weekend courtesy of tries Adam Warren, Kirby Myhill, Richie Pugh and Kieran Murphy, while at the same time restricting their opponents to a solitary score for the second successive weekend following their 31-3 rout of Leicester Tigers in round one. Consequently, Davies believes that the Scarlets have what it takes to go all the way this season.

"We will have a go at it, we will have a crack at it. It is do-able for us this season," he said. "It is one of the three competitions we are in, so we have tried not to look at it as anything different in our season, and have not made as many changes as in previous years to keep a level of consistency.

"We have got a good record here at the moment. I am very pleased we kept some momentum going. We haven't viewed these games as LV= Cup per se, just games we want to compete in to go back into the league season.

"The difference was that we were probably a bit more experienced and a bit further down the road in giving our younger players some experience, that will only play dividends.

"There are a few players putting their hands up and it is great to have that level of competition. Our younger players have had a lot of experience of playing in the higher competitions and that has to benefit everyone."

The one downside for the Scarlets was the suspected broken leg suffered by winger Dale Ford, who was rushed to hospital after being stretchered off seven minutes into the second half.

As for the beleaguered Blues, backs coach Gareth Baber was forced to rubbish suggestions that the region is in crisis given that they were also hammered by Newcastle last weekend.

"We had a very young side out there who will have gained in experience from today, while we are also still in fourth place in our league [RaboDirect PRO12]," he said.

Meanwhile, Baber revealed that Gavin Henson, who signed an eight-month deal with the Blues earlier in the week, will not be making his first-team debut any time soon as he continues his rehabilitation form a wrist injury.

"Gavin is still injured, so it will be a couple of weeks before he starts training and we will have a look at him then," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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