CONBEER SCORE IS THE CLINCHER
THE Scarlets twice came from behind to claim the spoils in a see-saw encounter at Welford Road.
It’s a result that will put Dwayne Peel’s men in good heart going into the new season.
They trailed 17-8 early in the second half and were behind once again going into the final 10 minutes.
But in the end, their four tries and the boot of replacement fly-half Dan Jones saw them home, with wing Ryan Conbeer claiming the winning score.
There had been two tries in the space of three minutes – from Steff Evans and Steff Hughes – to put them back into the game, adding to Tom Rogers’ early effort.
Peel will be delighted with the character shown by his team – as they overcame both a yellow card and a deficit – while their cutting edge in attack after the break bodes well for the future.
The Scarlets made a dream start to this Anglo-welsh pre-season friendly, opening the scoring after just five minutes with a fine try from wing Rogers.
He darted over from close range after a spell of sustained pressure in the opposition 22.
But the Tigers responded with a touchdown of their own on 13 minutes.
Their skipper Ellis Genge was the man to make it, with the England prop punching through and delivering the scoring offload to supporting centre Matt Scott.
Fly-half George Ford added the extras to put the hosts ahead.
The Scarlets then spurned a series of scoring opportunities off attacking line-outs, as they turned over possession three times in a row.
Having failed to secure a try by kicking to the corner, they opted to kick for goal instead and fly-half Sam Costelow did the necessary against his former team to put them back in front.
But as the half wore on, Leicester started to get on top at the scrum and a second penalty there allowed Ford to go for goal and he made no mistake from some 40 metres out. That gave the hosts a 10-8 lead after something of a scrappy opening period.
They soon went further ahead when play resumed, capitalising immediately on Scarlets lock Tom Price being yellow-carded for going off his feet at a ruck, with hooker Tom Youngs forcing his way over for a converted try.
The game then turned as the visitors struck twice in the space of three minutes.
First, the ever predatory Evans danced over following a scything run from full-back Johnny Mcnicholl.
Then it was the turn of centre
Hughes to cross after a break from scrum-half Kieran Hardy, with Dan Jones converting from wide out both times.
Leicester immediately went back in front when front-rower Nephi
Leatigaga crashed over.
But the pendulum swung one final time when great hands released Scarlets wing Conbeer to cross in the right corner, with Jones again slotting the touchline conversion.