SCARLETS GRAB A PARMA BONUS
SCRUM-HALF Jonathan Evans pounced for two tries as the Scarlets continued their impressive Guinness Pro12 form with a bonus-point 31-24 win over Zebre in Parma.
Wayne Pivac’s side made it seven successive victories in the league with a five-try performance at a venue where they have struggled in the past.
The Scarlets soared into a 31-9 lead early in the first half, but just like a week earlier against Leinster, took their foot off the pedal in the final quarter and allowed Zebre back into the contest.
The star of the show was former Dragons No. 9 Evans, who now has five tries in his last five league games for the side he joined from Bath this summer.
And there was also the welcome sight of Wales prop Rob Evans making his long-awaited return from injury as a second-half replacement.
The Scarlets had been forced into a late change with Tom Price withdrawing through illness and Wales lock Jake Ball drafted into the starting line-up.
It was the Italians, who were
ZEBRE Tries: F Ruzza, G Venditti Con: C Canna Pens: Canna (2) Drop-goals: Canna (2) SCARLETS ROB LLOYD Rugby correspondent sport@walesonline.co.uk 24 31 Tries: J Evans (2), A Shingler, DTH van der Merwe, A Thomas Cons: R Patchell (3)
searching for their first home league win of the season, who made the early running with a drop-goal and try from Italian fly-half Carlo Canna putting them 6-0 ahead.
However, a moment of opportunism from scrum-half Evans had the Scarlets up and running.
Zebre failed to gather the restart and Evans stole possession and raced clear for a try which his halfback partner Rhys Patchell converted.
Canna added a smart second drop-goal, but after soaking up home pressure the Scarlets started to take control of proceedings.
Firstly, flanker Aaron Shingler was put over in the corner following a charge from back-row partner James Davies; then, two minutes from the interval, Canadian wing DTH van der Merwe benefited from some smart handling.
With Patchell on target again, the Scarlets were in control 21-9 at the interval and the bonus-point was in the bag five minutes after the restart.
Wales centre Jonathan Davies did the damage with the defence-busting break and it was full-back Aled Thomas who finished it off.
The Scarlets continued to cause problems with their attacking game and it was that man Jonathan Evans who raced clear for his second and his side’s fifth after 50 minutes.
That prompted Pivac to start using his bench with Rob Evans coming on for his first appearance of the season following his recovery from wrist surgery. Wales internationals Samson Lee and Gareth Davies also entered the fray.
However, the final quarter be- longed to the home side with tries from lock Federico Ruzza and wing Giovanbattista Venditti causing a few twitchy moments in the away camp.
Zebre’s endeavour was rewarded with a late bonus point thanks to a last-minute Canna penalty, but the Scarlets will have been more than happy to fly out from Italy with another five points secured.