SCARLETS BACK IN THE GROOVE 29 12
A DOMINANT Scarlets re-ignited their Guinness PRO14 campaign with a bonus-point triumph over Conference B rivals Ulster at Parc y Scarlets.
Both sides were shorn of their international stars, but squad depth has served Wayne Pivac well in recent years and they bossed this contest for long periods to extend their unbeaten run at home to 26 matches in the competition.
The 2017 champions crossed for four tries and could have had more with a couple disallowed by the officials.
Centre Kieron Fonotia starred with a try-scoring man-of-the-match display, scrum-half Kieran Hardy and full-back Johnny McNicholl also caught the eye, while prop Werner Kruger was the pick of the pack.
The platform was laid in the second quarter after the Scarlets had responded strongly to going behind to a 14th-minute try from Ulster scrumhalf Dave Shanahan.
Dan Jones landed a penalty, then after turning down a kickable penalty, the home side made the gamble pay with a trademark short-range score for South African prop Kruger. With the Scarlets dominating, centre Paul Asquith threw a dummy to bamboozle the Ulster midfield only for the Aussie’s score to be chalked off for obstruction.
But it didn’t matter. Within minutes, the home fans were celebrating the second of the night when Hardy – a surprise choice ahead of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne in the No. 9 jersey – rewarded the coaches’ call by sniping over after the heavy artillery had been held up.
The third try wasn’t long in following. Pivac had called for a big game from Springbok Uzair Cassiem in the build-up to the match and the former Cheetah did the damage by bursting up the middle.
Quick ball had the Ulster defence stretched and the impressive Fonotia was the latest to showcase his dummying technique, cutting inside in the final minute of the half. At 22-7, the Scarlets were in firm control and almost had the bonus point in the bag within six minutes of the restart only for Kruger to be held up over the line looking for his second.
The home side continued with the battering ram approach as they laid siege to the Ulster line and finally the defences were breached when wing Tom Prydie finished in the corner on the hour mark.
Replacement Jonny Stewart pulled a score back for Ulster, but the maximum haul had long been secured by the Scarlets, who leapfrogged the Irish province into second in the Conference standings.