SCARLETS GET OFF TO A FLYER
SCARLETS 39
Tries: Conbeer, Blacker, Lousi, Thomson, Evans. Cons: Costelow (4). Pens: Costelow (2).
BAYONNE 7 Try: Acquier. Con: Dolhagaray.
DWAYNE Peel’s Scarlets got their European Challenge Cup campaign off to a cracking start with a five-try thumping of French side Bayonne.
The triumph ended a four-match losing streak for the West Welsh region and was only their second victory of an otherwise troubled start to the season.
The Scarlets took a stranglehold on the game early on and never looked like releasing their grip as they cruised to a bonus-point win in this Euro opener.
Wing Ryan Conbeer set the tone by starting the scoring in the seventh minute after clever link play with Dane Blacker, with Sam Costelow converting.
Two minutes later Blacker was scoring himself, this time after a Josh Macleod break.
Costelow stretched the lead to 18-0 with two penalties, before hooker Thomas Acquier finally got Bayonne on the scoreboard with a 25th-minute try.
But the Scarlets increased their advantage with another try shortly before half-time, this time through lock Sam Lousi, with Costelow again converting to send the home side into the interval with a 25-7 lead.
Bayonne clearly needed to score next, but it was the Scarlets who put their foot on the accelerator with two more tries midway through the second half.
First to go over was Blade Thomson, his touchdown ensuring a bonus point for the Welsh team.
Moments later Steff Evans grabbed try number five.
Costelow continued his excellent form with the boot with two more successful conversions to make it 39-7 by the 60th minute and game was well and truly over.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Scarlets and will give them huge confidence before they head away to take on the Cheetahs next.
Head coach Peel said: “I was pleased with the defensive effort. We scored some lovely tries but I felt we had a bit of fight in us in defence and that’s pleasing to see.
“There was ill-disciplined stuff early on and they came hard and they are heavy in that set-piece and they put us under pressure there and credit to the boys who managed to keep them out.
“We executed, especially first half, for the three tries with really nice line breaks and that’s something we need to improve on.”