Scott’s on the spot as Scarlets edge to victory
SCOTT Williams celebrated his recall to the Wales squad with a try to secure a nervous home win for the Scarlets in an edgy Guinness PRO14 clash with Benetton in Llanelli.
Missing 12 players with Warren Gatland’s national squad, this was always going to be a test for the depth of Wayne Pivac’s squad and so it proved.
It was by no means vintage stuff from the champions, who made a number of uncharacteristic handling errors throughout.
But beforehand, Pivac said he would take any sort of win and the New Zealander will be happy to see his side sitting pretty at the top of the Conference B standings as the league makes way for Anglo-Welsh action for the next fortnight.
Fly-half Dan Jones finished with 15 points in a man-of-the-match display, while Tadhg Beirne delivered another workaholic display up front.
For Williams, his 67th-minute try was a confidence-boosting way to head back to national duty, especially after his shock omission from Gatland’s original squad and it secured a 15th straight home league win for the west Walians.
The Scarlets had gone into the match looking to maintain that proud home record, which has seen them see off every PRO14 side to visit Llanelli this season with a bonus-point victory.
However, without so many of their Wales internationals, this was always going to stretch the home resources, especially with the Italians having been much improved this season, pushing Euro heavyweights Toulon all the way in the Champions Cup just two weeks ago.
They were also able to field nine nine members of the Italian autumn squad in their match-day 23.
However, it was the champions who started on the front foot, dominating possession and territory.
Fly-half Jones, deputising for Rhys Patchell, opened his side’s account with a straightforward penalty after just four minutes, then crossed for the game’s first try.
The Scarlets were aided by a glaring error from Benetton scrum-half Georgio Bronzini, who knocked on a kick ahead just metres from his own line.
From the ensuing scrum, the ball was fed to Jones, who dummied and stepped his way over, adding the conversion for good measure.
With the rain arriving, the Scarlets found their attacks frustrated by a combination of tenacious Benetton defence and sloppy handling errors.
A sharp break from scrum-half Jonathan Evans eventually led to a second Jones penalty, cancelling out an earlier effort from opposite number Ian McKinley which saw the Scarlets lead 13-3 at the interval.
However, it was that man McKinley who stunned the home crowd three minutes after the restart with a superb solo try.
An edgy Scarlets attempted to force their way back onto the offensive, turning down a kickable penalty in front of the posts.
But, although Benetton lost wing Andrea Bronzini to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, they continued to frustrate the hosts.
That was until 13 minutes from time, when Williams pounced on a smart kick through from Jones to the welcome relief of the Parc y Scarlets faithful.
Jones’ conversion extended the advantage to 12 points, ensuring the Scarlets maintained their position at the top of the Conference B standings. Scarlets: J McNicholl; T Prydie, S Williams, H Parkes (S Hughes, 69), P Asquith; D Jones, J Evans (D Smith, 69); D Evans (R Fawcett, 72), R Elias (T Davies, 72), W Kruger (S Gardiner, 72), L Rawlins (T Price, 62), D Bulbring, T Beirne, J Barclay (J McLeod, 62), W Boyde. Benetton: J Hayward; A Esposito, T Benvenuti, J Brex, A Bronzini; I McKinley, G Bronzini (E Gori, 47); C Traore (F Zani, 62), T Baravalle, T Pasquali, A Zanni (M Lazzaroni, 47), F Ruzza, W Douglas (I Herbst, 59) R Barbieri, N Manu (S Negri 47).
SCARLETS ....................... 20