Prop star Cooper denies Scarlets
ULSTER A came back from the dead to win a thriller at Llandovery with a last-play try from tighthead prop Peter Cooper.
Moments earlier the young Ulstermen had seen victory seemingly snatched from their grasp when a penalty from Jac Wilson made it 32-30 to Scarlets A.
It was the fourth time in the match they had found themselves behind, but they hit back with only 14 men with Matt Agnew in the sinbin for the obstruction that led to the Wilson kick.
Wave after wave of attacks were stopped in the home 22 until Cooper came up with the winning play to earn his side revenge for defeat to the same side last season and get their Celtic Cup campaign off to a flying start.
Bruce Houston laid the ground work for the win by kicking 15 points to give himself an early present ahead of his 20th birthday on Monday.
No.8 Azure Allison, flanker David McCann and prop alum Reid scored the other tries for the visitors.
Scrum half Efan Jones, on trial from RGC 1404, marked his debut in a Scarlets shirt with a hat-trick of tries. The other Scarlets try came from centre Rhodri Jones, while Ioan Hughes landed three conversions and a penalty, and Wilson added a penalty.
Cardiff Blues A shipped seven tries as they were thrashed 47-28 by Leinster A in their Celtic Cup opener at the Arms Park.
Ireland U20 scrum-half Cormac Foley was the star of the show as he touched down for a hat-trick.
The Blues turned around 19-0 behind at the interval with hooker Dave Sheehan, Foley and Liam Turner claiming Leinster’s tries. The Irishmen then ran riot in the second-half with Foley scoring a further two before they were awarded a penalty try courtesy of their scrum.
Jack Kelly completed Leinster’s scoring before the Blues hit back with a brace of tries from replacement hooker Cam Lewis and a try apiece from Ed Howley and Barney Nightingale.
Dragons A were edged out 24-19 by Connacht Eagles in Galway on Friday afternoon.
The two teams were level at 12-12 at the break thanks to first-half Dragons tries from James McCarthy and Connor Edwards. Rio Dyer added a third after the break and Evan Lloyd kicked two conversions.
Connacht tries came from flanker Lucas Culliton and No.8 Mikey Wilson, with outside half Conor Dean kicking 14 points. Ospreys Development notched a 20-20 draw in Munster A.
A second minute interception try from centre Callum Carson, converted by Josh Thomas, put the visitors ahead, but the first of three home tries, from flanker Cain Hurley, made it 7-7 at the break.
Scrum-half Charlie O’Doherty gave Munster A a great start to the second half when he scampered over, but Ben Cambriani hit back within five minutes to bring the Ospreys level once again.
Home skipper Jack Crowley and Thomas swapped penalties before hooker Scott Buckley struck with the third Munster A try to edge them back in front.
Wales Sevens star George Gasson came off the bench to secure a draw as he sped clear for his side’s third try.