Bundee is in the mood as Friend gets timely boost

BUNDEE AKI produced a stunning display in his first start for Connacht since April to give new coach Andy Friend a huge fillip ahead of the Irish derby against Leinster next weekend.

With Joe Schmidt watching from the stand, Aki was full of running and drive while the performance of his centre partner Tom Farrell was top notch too.

The hosts never trailed against a side they had not beaten in two and a half years.

They were deserved 20-13 leaders at the break with Aki setting up Farrell for the opening try after five minutes.

Jack Carty, who kicked seven from seven and was superb from the hand as well, converted for a perfect start.

Leigh Halfpenny pulled back a couple of penalties for Scarlets.

An overcooked penalty to the left corner by Rhys Patchell was punished by a superb kick to touch by Carty in a move that ended with Cian Kelleher taking a Matt Healy pass to score.

Johnny McNicholl hit back by stepping inside Kelleher to score at the other end but another Carty penalty left Connacht seven up at the break.

The pace of the game dropped after the restart, but two more penalties from Carty made it 26-13 after 67 minutes.

Tom Prydie set up a nervous finish for the home fans, when he scored eight minutes from time, but Niyi Adeolokun made the game safe after a good turnover by replacement scrum-half Caolin Blade.