Scarlets 17-8 Connacht: Liam Williams brace cheers Welsh hearts
By Brian Dodds
Last Updated: 25/09/16 8:47am
The Scarlets ended a run of five defeats by claiming their first win of the season in a tightly-fought 17-8 defeat of Connacht in the Guinness PRO12.
Connacht head coach Pat Lam made six changes to his starting line-up for Saturday evening's visit to Parc y Scarlets, bringing back Jake Heenan plus Irish internationals Matt Healy, Kieran Marmion, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane.
The changes appeared to have some effect for the defending champions as both sides sought their first victory of the season, with the Irish visitors opening the scoring after 22 minutes in Llanelli.
Scarlets full-back Aled Thomas had missed three penalties before Connacht centre Bundee Aki broke into the home side's 22. A good scrum gave Connacht a strong platform to feed the ball out to winger Niyi Adeolokun who went over in the corner.
Jack Carty's conversion attempt missed after hitting the upright. The Scarlets, however, took the lead 13 minutes later when good hands from centre Jonathan Davies put wing Liam Williams in for a try behind the posts, easily converted by fly-half Rhys Patchell.
Patchell's opposite number Carty put Connacht back in front for a half-time 8-7 lead with a penalty after the Scarlets' skipper Ken Owens disrupted a maul illegally.
In the second half, wing Steff Evans went closest to scoring a try but with the Scarlets still trailing, the Welsh region brought on Scott Williams in a re-organised backline.
Scarlets began to play on the front foot with scrum-half Aled Davies and Owens combining well.
The scores stayed unchanged for most of the second half until the 66th minute when a period of consistent pressure from the Scarlets paid off.
Another home attack was held up but from another five-metre scrum, Williams collected a pass on the blindside and squeezed over in the corner.
Patchell converted for a 14-8 lead and then added a drop goal after the ball was turned over in a threatening position a few minutes later.
That was enough to seal their first win of the season which lifted them off the bottom of the PRO12 table and up to eighth.
