Bonus time for Scarlets as they keep up the pressure

SCARLETS ....................... 36 SOUTHERN KINGS ......... 17

THE Scarlets kept up the pressure on Conference B rivals Edinburgh and Munster with a bonus-point victory over the Southern Kings in Llanelli.

With last weekend’s defeat to Edinburgh having opened up a gap between third-placed Scarlets and the top two, this was the ideal response from Brad Mooar’s side.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring after 13 minutes, Courtney Winnaar kicking the penalty after Kieran Hardy was bizarrely penalised for what looked like an innocuous tackle.

It took just eight minutes for the Scarlets to hit back. A poor clearance kick was worked wide, with Corey Baldwin feeding Josh Macleod in the wide channel.

The flanker was hauled down, but as the Scarlets worked it back the other way, prop Phil Price freed his hands in the tackle to release Tevita Ratuva for the score with a deft offload.

The visitors had one chalked off after several TMO replays shortly after, but that was merely delaying their first effort over the whitewash.

Just before the hour mark, Howard Mnisi hit a short line off the back of a scrum and went over untouched for a simple score.

But it was the Scarlets who would lead at the break, with slick hands releasing Ed Kennedy out wide to canter over on 35 minutes.

The Kings started the scoring in the second half, with slick offloading putting winger Christopher Hollis over to retake the lead 10 minutes after the break.

But it was to be the Scarlets’ day, with dazzling feet from Ryan Conbeer putting them back in front four minutes later.

And then three tries in 10 minutes sealed the bonus point and took the game away from the visitors, with Uzair Cassiem, Dan Davis and Tom Rogers all crossing to chalk up a comprehensive victory for the West Walians.

Afterwards, Scarlets coach Brad Mooar told Premier Sports: “There was a lot of intent there, but not a lot of accuracy in the first half.

“I had to remind the guys it was dry and to back their skill set a bit more. I think we saw a more respectful performance in the second half that shows more of what we’re about.”

SCARLETS: Tries: T Ratuva, E Kennedy, R Conbeer, U Cassiem, D Davis, T Rogers. Cons: D Jones (3).

SOUTHERN KINGS: Tries: H Mnisi, C Hollis. Cons: D Catrakilis (2). Pens: C Winnaar.