Scarlets left red-faced by a string of errors
EDINBURGH.......................................26 SCARLETS..........................................22
DWAYNE Peel’s reign with the Scarlets started with an errorstrewn defeat away to Edinburgh on Saturday night.
They had chances to win it at the death, but ultimately a series of errors before half-time sealed their fate.
The Scarlets started full of confidence, with returning centre Scott Williams showing up nicely.
He looked to have opened the scoring after a lovely move, only for the try to be chalked off for a forward pass from Steff Evans.
However, not long later, Williams proved the catalyst for Evans to dive over in the corner after a lovely delayed pass found space out wide.
The West Walians looked in danger of running away with it as another try was chalked off when a maul was held up over the line.
However, as promising as the first quarter was, the second was equally as bad.
Edinburgh injected tempo into the game, with scrum-half Ben Vellacott looking lively, but they were provided with the platform by continuous errors from the visitors. First, the Scarlets coughed up possession in their own 22, with the Scottish outfit immediately taking advantage as Blair Kinghorn and Mark Bennett combined to put the former over for a simple try.
Shortly after, Edinburgh stretched their lead when Bennett hit a hard line from a ruck, crashing through some soft shoulders to score from close range.
Dan Jones’ first successful attempt from the kicking tee at the third attempt reduced the gap, only for another error to hand Edinburgh an instant score.
Hardy was caught dithering at the base of the ruck, although there were legitimate questions as to whether the ball was actually out of the ruck, but the hosts capitalised on the situation, with Darcy Graham spinning through a series of tackle attempts to score.
The Scarlets started the second half with another try chalked off as Evans’s feet brushed the touchline before he grounded the ball.
They did close the gap, however, with Hardy waltzing through a gap to score with half an hour to go.
However, just before the hour mark, Graham danced over for a second try to restore the two-score lead.
That could have been that, only for some textbook work by centre pairing Williams and Jonathan Davies to create a try for Johnny McNicholl, reducing the deficit to just four points as the match neared the final ten minutes.
Try as they might, though, they just couldn’t find a winning score.
SCARLETS: Johnny McNicholl; Ryan Conbeer, Jonathan Davies (capt), Scott Williams, Steff Evans; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Aaron Shingler, Sam Lousi, Blade Thomson, Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni. Replacements: Marc Jones, Phil Price, WillGriff John, Tom Price, Tom Phillips, Dane Blacker, Sam Costelow, Ioan Nicholas.