Scarlets book semi-final place with victory over Cheetahs
THE Scarlets kept their hopes of defending their title alive with a stunning victory over the Cheetahs in Llanelli.
The West Walians are aiming to become only the second side after Leinster to successfully defend the PRO14 title.
And on this evidence who would back against Wayne Pivac’s side from at the very least reaching their second successive final in Dublin?
To win the competition they will likely have to go up a few gears but this provided a stern warning to their rivals.
A brace of tries from Steff Evans, plus scores from Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Prydie, James Davies and Jonathan Evans was enough to secure victory.
All the Cheetahs could muster was a late try from future Scarlet Clayton Blommetjies and a first half penalty from Johan Goosen.
The Scarlets started in urgent fashion and grabbed the game’s first try after a mere six minutes with Wales winger Evans crossing at the far left-hand corner. The Cheetahs messed up a lineout deep in the home side’s 22 before a lovely floated pass from Patchell put the Wales wing over.
Pivac’s side continued to apply pressure on the South African franchise and Halfpenny was successful with a penalty attempt after the hosts demolished the Cheetahs scrum.
The Scarlets’ second touchdown will surely be a contender for the try of the season award. With the Cheetahs on the attack the ball was spilled forward into Patchell’s hands just outside the home side’s 22.
The outside half ran up the touchline and offloaded to Gareth Davies who flung the ball wide to Hadleigh Parkes. The Kiwi-born centre galloped up the opposite touchline before offloading to Halfpenny who ran in unopposed.
Goosen was responsible for the Cheetahs’ first points of the game after the Scarlets infringed at the breakdown.
But Goosen’s penalty was only a short reprieve for the visitors as the Scarlets put them under even more pressure. With the South Africans on the back foot from a scrum, Tom Prydie shot over the line but was denied by a terrific tackle by Paul Schoeman.
Just as the visitors thought they had survived an onslaught Evans crossed for a scintillating try reminiscent of Shane Williams in his prime. With three defenders shadowing the diminutive Wales wing he danced his way out of trouble before kicking ahead and regathering the ball for his side to lead 24-3 at the break.
The second half went the same way for the hosts as Prydie ran in from 30 metres after Scott Williams had burst through a tackle before putting in a sumptuous offload.
Pivac’s side refused to relax and were celebrating again when Davies smashed his way over from short range as a result of a powerful driving lineout.
Replacement scrum-half Evans crossed for their fifth at the right-hand corner after Lewis Rawlins won a clever turnover on the floor.
Blommetjies snuck over at the corner late on, while Rhys Patchell was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Sibhale Maxwane.