Scarlets make amends with bonus point victory as Welsh back-row shines

The Scarlets made amends for last year's shock defeat to Black Lion, beating the same opposition with a bonus point 36-18 win in the Challenge Cup in Llanelli.

Tries from Gareth Davies, Johnny Williams and Archie Hughes, as well as a double from captain Josh Macleod, were enough as Dwayne Peel's side sealed their first win in Europe this season.

In a scrappy match dominated by endless TMO replays, the Scarlets managed to avenge last year's defeat to the Georgian outfit in relatively comfortable fashion.

The Scarlets had started strongly, crossing for a try after just a few minutes. Fast footwork from wing Ellis Mee took him past a couple of defenders, with scrum-half Davies on his shoulder to take the try-scoring pass.

The boot of captain Luka Matkava dragged Black Lion back into it, only for the fly-half to be sin-binned for head-on-head contact with centre William after a lengthy TMO review.

From the penalty, the Scarlets' maul proved too powerful - rumbling over easily to allow captain Macleod to score.

The Scarlets wouldn't score again until Black Lion were back up to a full compliment. From a similar position as Macleod's try, the Scarlets instead brought Mee on a switch from the back of a lineout.

He was stopped short, but more strong carrying from the Scarlets eventually saw Williams stretch out.

The second-half started with another TMO intervention, as Black Lion second-row Lado Chachanidze was sent off for lifting Macleod off the floor and dropping him on his head.

Again, with Black Lion down to 14, the Wales back-row again capitalised - dusting himself off and getting over for his second try from another powerful maul.

It did appear that the Scarlets, with a 15-point lead and numerical advantage, would pull