Scarlets get season back on track with big win over rivals Cardiff

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.