The Scarlets’ dismal form in the Magners League continued after slumping to a slender home defeat to Edinburgh, despite Richie Pugh and Lee Williams crossing in either half for Nigel Davies’ men at Parc y Scarlets.
But Edinburgh hit back with second-half tries from Craig Laidlaw and Craig Hamilton to hand the Scottish outfit a valuable away success and shock the hosts. And Rob Moffet’s men bounced back from a 9-8 defeat by Newport Gwent Dragons in their last outing in November.
The visitors’ did not start well and fell behind to an Rhys Priestland penalty in the third minute from close-range. But Edinburgh fly-half David Blair, winning a rare start for the rested Phil Godman, levelled the scores with a fine drop-goal four minutes later.
In a dire opening period in terrible conditions of pouring rain and a swirling wind, the Scarlets tried to play some running rugby. And the hosts were rewarded when flanker Pugh touched down for the hosts’ opener.
Wing Andrew Fenby fended off Blair’s tackle and after a burst of accelerator, the former Newcastle Falcons men off-loaded to allow Pugh to score with ease. Priestland missed the conversion as well as two routine penalties as the Scarlets failed to build a healthy advantage.
Then Edinburgh regrouped for the second half and punished Priestland for his wayward kicking in the 50th minute when Laidlaw scrambled over after a sustained period of pressure.
Chris Paterson converted but the Scarlets responded through wing wizard Williams. Davies had introduced star fly-half Stephen Jones and he made an instant impact by suppying the final pass after neat work by David Lyons, Iestyn Thomas and Martin Roberts.
But Edinburgh rallied once again and regained the lead when replacement lock Hamilton crashed over. Scarlets substitute Josh Turnbull then compounded the home side’s misery with a yellow-card inside 20 seconds of his introduction after a dangerous second-half tackle on Nick De Luca.
Jones hammered home a late penalty but even the British Lion could not save the Scarlets from recording another league defeat.
Scarlets
Tries: Pugh, L Williams Pens: Priestland, S Jones
Edinburgh
Tries: Laidlaw, Hamilton Cons: Paterson 2 Drop goal: D Blair.
