Scarlets 35-20 Cardiff: Hosts overcome red card to thrash Blue and Blacks in enthralling derby

The Scarlets overcame an early second half red card to thrash Cardiff 35-20 in a Welsh derby on Saturday night.

It’s a win that sends Dwayne Peel’s side top of the Welsh Shield in the United Rugby Championship and was largely masterminded by man of the match Johnny McNicholl on his 100th appearance for the club.

Diminutive fly-halves Jarrod Evans and Sam Costelow traded early penalties but, in truth, the match was lacking any real edge in the opening exchanges and the sparse crowd at Parc y Scarlets was a little flat.

The game was desperate for a try and it was provided by lethal finisher Josh Adams in the 13th minute. Cardiff regathered a loose ball after a kick into the Scarlets half and Ben Thomas sent another one over towards Adams. The Wales international beat Tom Rogers to the ball, hacked over McNicholl and outsprinted Scott Williams to the grounding. A brilliant finish that Evans converted.

The Scarlets were level just minutes later. Rogers put Johnny Williams in space on the near touchline and he made good yards. Then Costelow spotted tight-head Dillon Lewis in the defensive line before rounding his man, powering away from Tomos Williams and scoring a brilliant solo try from 35 metres before converting it as well.

He then missed a shot at goal and his opposite number landed one on the half hour mark to edge Cardiff back into the lead but the hosts finished the half strongly.

Cardiff indiscipline gave them access to the 22 and it was McNicholl who stood up Jason Harries and dusted him on the outside. A brilliant finish but all a little bit too easy.

Then the Scarlets’ pack turned the screw. A scrum penalty in their own half and then a maul penalty put them 10 metres out from the Cardiff line. Centre Williams