The Scarlets withstood a late Cardiff fightback to claim their first United Rugby Championship win of the season 31-25 in a full-blooded Welsh derby in Llanelli.
Dwayne Peel's side came into this game under intense pressure after suffering two hidings in South Africa, but after a shaky first half showed tremendous character to claim a bonus-point win over their Welsh rivals. This derby had been undermined by Wales' exhibition match against the Barbarians on the same day, meaning both sides were without a number of first-choice players, but even so it was a hotly-contested affair.
Cardiff drew first blood with a lovely break from Cameron Winnett who offloaded to Harri Millard. Johnny McNicholl shot up and attempted to intercept before Millard's offload found Ellis Bevan for the opening try with Tinus de Beer adding the extras. The hosts hit back quickly when powerful centre Eddie James hit a good line to get the west Walians over the gain-line.
After going through several phases, summer signing Alex Craig powered over from short range with Ioan Lloyd converting. But Cardiff held the upper hand physically, with their front-row annihilating the Scarlets scrum as the hosts coughed up penalty after penalty on their own line.
In the end referee Adam Jones had no choice but to send Scarlets loosehead Kemsley Mathias to the sin bin for collapsing the scrum. Cardiff made the most of their numerical advantage when discarded Wales prop Rhys Carre showed his strength to force his way over the line for a try.
De Beer added the extra two points from the kicking tee, and Cardiff looked in complete control as they physically dominated an underpowered Scarlets pack. But the Scarlets managed to find a way out of their own half, and completely against the run of play Johnny McNicholl sliced open the Cardiff defence to touch down for his 45th URC try.
Lloyd converted from the touchline meaning both sides were level at 14-14 at the break. De Beer edged the visitors back ahead after the break from the kicking tee, but the Scarlets pack were far more competitive after the break.
The Scarlets took the lead for the first time when Joe Roberts, whose pass was clearly forward but missed by the officials, found Steff Evans on the outside. The former Wales wing chipped ahead with the ball regathered by Gareth Davies who touched down for the home side's third try which Lloyd converted.
By now they had found an answer to their scrummaging problems which gave the Scarlets a strong platform to attack from. Davies broke clear from the base of the scrum before finding Vaea Fifita on the outside.
The talented Tonga international showed his athleticism by taking three backs on the outside to score. Lloyd converted from the touchline before he added a further three points with a successful penalty.
But Cardiff weren't prepared to throw in the towel just yet with a well-timed cross-kick from de Beer in his own 22 finding Theo Cabango who beat two defenders to score from 70 metres out. Cardiff threw everything at the Scarlets, who had Teddy Leatherbarrow sin-binned for an off the ball hit, in the final stages of the game but the home side's defence came out on top.
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Ioan Nicholas, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Steff Evans; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies (capt); Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jac Price, Ben Williams, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Vaea Fifita. Replacements: Isaac Young, Steff Thomas, Wyn Jones, Iwan Shenton, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Jonathan Davies.
Cardiff: Cameron Winnett; Aled Summerhill, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Theo Cabango; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Rhys Carré, Liam Belcher (capt), Rhys Litterick, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Lopeti Timani.
Replacements: Efan Daniel Rhys Barratt, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Ellis Jenkins, Jamie Hill, Max Clark, Harri Millard.
Full-time: Scarlets 31-25 Cardiff
That's a big win for the Scarlets who hold off a late fightback from Cardiff to claim a bonus point victory.
Cardiff dominated the first-half but the Scarlets found their feet after the break, showing a lot of character to secure their first URC victory of the season
Yellow card
Teddy Leatherbarrow gets sent to the sin bin for taking Cameron Winnett out without the ball
Try Cardiff! Scarlets 31-25 Cardiff
That's a very good try by the visitors. Tinus de Beer kicks cross field in his own 22, and finds Theo Cabango.
The wing proceeds to run in unopposed from his own 22.
Scarlets penalty! Scarlets 31-20 Cardiff
That's a big penalty from Ioan Lloyd who nails another penalty for the Scarlets. He's been good tonight.
Try Scarlets! Scarlets 28-20 Cardiff
That's a cracking try by the Scarlets!
They finally get parity at the scrum which allows Gareth Davies to break clear. The Wales scrum-half finds Vaea Fifita who goes on the outside, and bumps off a defender to score the bonus point try.
Ioan Lloyd converts from the touchline to make it a two-score game
Penalty Cardiff! Scarlets 21-20 Cardiff
It's now a one-point game after Tinus de Beer nails another penalty.
Try Scarlets! Scarlets 21-17 Cardiff
That's a tremendous finish from Gareth Davies!
McNicholl roams in midfield before offloading to Joe Roberts. The Wales centre finds Steff Evans on the edge who chips ahead for Davies to gather and score.
It must be said though there was a clear forward pass from Roberts in midfield which the officials have missed. Ioan Lloyd converts.
Penalty Cardiff! Scarlets 14-17 Cardiff
Cardiff edge ahead through the boot of Tinus de Beer.
Half-time: Scarlets 14-14 Cardiff
The game is level at the interval but Cardiff have dominated the majority of this match.
Cardiff's scrum has been a huge weapon with two tries from Ellis Bevan and Rhys Carre. But the Scarlets have looked dangerous when they've been able to go through the phases with Alex Craig and Johnny McNicholl touching down.
Try Scarlets! Scarlets 14-14 Cardiff
Against the run of play Johnny McNicholl slices through the Cardiff defence to score his 45th URC try. It's game on again.
Ioan Lloyd is successful with the conversion.
Cardiff on top
Cardiff's scrum dominance continues as they lay siege to the Scarlets line. The home side are really up against it here.
Try Cardiff! Scarlets 7-14 Cardiff
Rhys Carre powers over from short-range after a period of intense pressure from the visitors. The Scarlets really need to find a way to fix their scrum issues because it is killing them.
Tinus de Beer adds the extras.
Yellow card!
Scarlets prop Kemsley Mathias has been sent to the sin bin for repeated offences at the scrum.
Scrum pressure
Cardiff are annhilating the Scarlets in the scrum. They are on a final warning
The Scarlets are very lucky.
Cardiff have a penalty in front of the Scarlets post but Sam Wainwright should have seen yellow for cynically playing the ball on the floor.
That was close
Scarlets win a turnover a few metres out from their own line but Gareth Davies makes a hash of his clearance kick. However, Cardiff fail to ground the ball and it's a scrum five instead.
Try Scarlets! Scarlets 7-7 Cardiff
After a period of intense pressure the hosts get their just rewards. A lovely line from Eddie James puts the Scarlets on the front foot.
They get really close but a huge tackle from Cameron Winnett stops Joe Roberts. However, the Scarlets go again and Scotland international Alex Craig powers over from short-range. Ioan Lloyd adds the extras.
Cardiff survive
That's a good defensive set for Cardiff who stop the Scarlets' driving lineout with Vaea Fifita spillng the ball forward. Cardiff then proceed to stuff the Scarlets scrum.
Try Cardiff! Scarlets 0-7 Cardiff
Cardiff draw first blood with a nice break from Cameron Winnett who finds Harri Millard with Ellis Bevan eventually touching down.
Tinus de Beer adds the extras.
View from the Cardiff camp
Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins is expecting a stern challenge from the Scarlets:
“They've obviously had a tough start of the season but we've been around long enough to know that this is a tough place to go South Africa,” said Jenkins.
“They've had a young team out there for two games and they were left some boys behind looking to get them back in this week and it's going to be a tough challenge for us.
“We'll see the best Scarlets they’ve probably been this season on Saturday and we know what's coming from them and we know where we have to be good and we've done a lot of work focusing on what we can do as a group and where we can go with our game plan and what we can imprint on them."
View from the Scarlets camp
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel:
“It is exciting; there are lessons we need to take on board from South Africa and we know we need to get better in areas of our game. Cardiff are a good side, they will come here after a big win over the Dragons and will be combative like they were here last season when they managed to get over the line.
"We have got to be ready for that type of game, it’s a Welsh derby and we have to be right up for it. It’s also our first URC game at home this season, it’s a big one for us.”
Welcome
Join us for live updates of the second Welsh derby of the season as the Scarlets welcome Cardiff to Llanelli.
Both sides have been hampered by Wales' exhibition match against Cardiff at the Principality Stadium while the Scarlets also have a lot of injuries. Dwayne Peel's side will be desperate to claim their first win of the season after two heavy losses in South Africa.
