Saracens crash to Scarlets

David Lyons is stopped in his tracks

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The Scarlets edged to a 26-17 victory over Saracens in their opening EDF Energy Cup Pool D fixture.

A try from former All Blacks prop Kees Meeuws in the 48th minute turned out to be the decisive moment for the Welsh region, who fielded their strongest available XV.

That was in stark contrast to Saracens. Rugby director Eddie Jones responded to his side's third fixture in nine days by making 14 changes to the team that won at Bristol in the Guinness Premiership, young flanker Andy Saull the only survivor.

The Scarlets did not have things all their own way before sealing the result when Meeuws was driven over for the game-clinching try.

Their other try came from No: 8 David Lyons and Wales fly-half Stephen Jones contributed 16 points with four penalties and two conversions.

Saracens replied with tries from centre Francisco Leonelli and England Under 20 left-wing Noah Cato, both converted by Scottish international fly-half Gordon Ross, who also kicked a penalty.

Early miss

Ross did not get off to the best of starts, missing a penalty attempt with just 25 seconds on the clock.

And things soon got worse when Scarlets, spurning the chance of an easy penalty, opted for the scrum and drove the home pack back over their own line before Lyons dropped on the ball for their opening try, converted by Jones.

Saracens, prompted by scrum-half Moses Rauluni, leading the side for the first time, hit back to take the lead with two tries in a six-minute spell.

Leonelli took the final pass from Cato to cross in the 12th minute and then Cato almost scored four minutes later when, chasing his own deep kick, he won the race with Nathan Brew but just failed to reach the ball before it rolled dead.

It took him only two minutes to make amends, racing in to finish off a move instigated by Ross and centre Alex Goode.

Ross converted both to put the home side 14-7 ahead but they paid for a string of infringements as three penalties from Jones wiped out the lead to send Scarlets in with a 16-14 half-time advantage.

The lead lasted just three minutes into the second half before Ross boosted Saracens back in front with a penalty from just inside his own half.

Scarlets regained the lead when they powered Meeuws, returning to the side from injury, over in the 48th minute, with Jones adding the conversion from the left touchline.

And the experienced fly-half stretched their lead to nine points with his fourth penalty after 63rd minutes.

Farrell record

Both Saracens full-back Dan Scarbrough and Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts visited the sin-bin before Owen Farrell became the youngest English player in the professional era when he replaced Goode in the 67th minute.

At 17 years and 11 days, the son of Andy Farrell - the currently injured Saracens centre and former Great Britain rugby league captain - beat Danny Cipriani's record by 36 days.

Saracens, utilising their bench, mounted a late rally to try and rescue the match but were unable to find a way through.