SCARLETS PAY PRICE FOR MISSING CHANCES
THE Scarlets went down to a fourth successive defeat as they paid the price for failing to take their chances against opponents who were twice reduced to 14 men.
For Connacht, it was a first ever win at Parc y Scarlets as they outscored their hosts by three tries to two, with fly-half Jack Carty kicking 14 points.
It was the Irish province’s first victory at the ground in 12 attempts and it is more than 17 years since they last triumphed in Llanelli, that win coming at Stradey Park.
They held on for their landmark victory on Saturday evening despite having try-scoring lock Leva Fifita sent off six minutes from time after picking up a second yellow card.
The Scarlets had their opportunities to turn things around in the final quarter after going 29-13 down, but they bombed a series of gilt-edged chances.
The hosts had started the game much the better and built a 10-0 lead.
Dan Jones kicked the Scarlets into an early lead with a straightforward penalty before Connacht suffered a further setback when No. 8 Paul Boyle departed for a HIA.
The Scarlets went close to scoring the opening try when a neat offload from Sam Lousi sent Aaron Shingler away, but the flanker could not find Dane Blacker with the scoring pass.
A couple of errors from Connacht full-back Tiernan O’halloran gifted the home side a platform in the Irish 22. The Scarlets made it count when a superbly judged chip ahead from Scott Williams was collected by Johnny Williams to score.
Connacht did not fire a shot in the first quarter, but the balance shifted when they were gifted their first points.
On winning a penalty on halfway, Jones launched a cross-field kick, only for it to fall to Tom Daly, who raced away to provide centre Sammy Arnold with an easy run-in as Scarlets players looked on in disbelief.
Carty missed the conversion but was on target with two simple penalties before Jones replied with one for the Scarlets.
But Connacht had the final say in the half with Tongan Test lock Fifita – the brother of Scarlets-bound All Black Vaea Fifita – driving over. Carty converted and the visitors led 18-13.
After the restart, Carty extended that advantage with two penalties in quick succession before the Scarlets introduced Rhys Patchell and Kieran Hardy in the hope of transforming their fortunes.
It did not pay off as Australian wing
Porch immediately scored Connacht’s third try, with the Scarlets conceding a succession of penalties and frequently losing line-outs.
But then came the first yellow card for Fifita when he tackled Hardy within 10 metres of a quick tap, an offence which also resulted in a penalty try as there was no cover behind.
It was now game on again, but the Scarlets failed to capitalise on their extra man, with Hardy spilling a tryscoring pass and hooker Marc Jones then losing the ball in going for the line.
However, a minute after his return, Fifita landed a late tackle on Ioan Nicholas and was given a second yellow to pick up a red.
Patchell landed a penalty to cut the deficit to six points, but Dwayne Peel’s men were unable to break through for the decisive score in the closing stages.
They picked up a losing bonus point, but remain in 13th place in the United Rugby Championship with just three league wins to their name this season.