Scarlets fall to another defeat as improved display not enough to trouble Connacht

The Scarlets fell to yet another defeat as they were comfortably beaten 26-10 by Connacht in Galway.

It was a better performance from the west Walians but they are still a long way off where they need to be, and were made to pay for a slow start as they found themselves 19-0 behind after just 24 minutes.

Dwayne Peel's side fought back but left themselves with too much to do. The Scarlets were playing into a swirling wind for the first 40 minutes, and they were on the back foot from the word go as they slipped off several tackles in midfield.

Peel's side conceded their first try after seven minutes when Connacht tighthead Jack Aungier bumped off Alex Craig before sprinting 35 metres up field to put scrum-half Caolin Blade over with JJ Hanrahan adding the extras.

Connacht were full of confidence running the ball from deep and quickly found themselves camped in the Scarlets 22. After a period of sustained pressure a neat pass from Cian Prendergast put Eoin de Buitlear over for their second try.

The Scarlets defence were falling off too many simple tackles with Connacht inside centre Cathal Forde causing havoc in midfield. Connacht continued to pressurise the Scarlets and crossed for their third try when No 8 Sean Jansen powered his way over from short-range with Hanrahan converting.

To their credit the Scarlets refused to throw in the towel, and responded with a well-worked try. Whenever the visitors were able to keep hold of the ball they looked dangerous, and after finding Vaea Fifita on the edge the former All Black broke clear to put scrum-half Efan Jones over for a try on his first competitive start for the Scarlets.

Dan Jones converted but the visitors found themselves under pressure for the final 10 minutes of the first