Capital gains for Scarlets

Scarlets moved up to second in the Magners League with a 21-16 victory over Edinburgh at a frigid Murrayfield.

Full-back Morgan Stoddart and centre Jonathan Davies crossed twice in addition to 11 points from Rhys Priestland as the Welsh side ended Edinburgh's run of five sucessive home wins.

Chris Paterson scored all 16 of the hosts' points but they never led at any stage of the match despite going in at the break on level terms.

Priestland booted his side into a 6-0 after 20 minutes before Edinburgh finally got on the board two minutes later following a dynamic break from David Blair, Paterson slotting the ensuing penalty.

Classy Scarlets centre Regan King then made light work of the challenging underfoot conditions as he danced his way through the home rearguard on 25 minutes.

His attempted inside offload ricocheted of the backtracking John Houston, but full-back Stoddart was unable to collect the ball as it lay inches from the line.

However, Blair made another sizzling break and the hosts managed to draw level with Paterson converting a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Amends

But it was Scarlets who again looked most dangerous from the kick-off and they surged ahead moments after the break, Stoddart making amends for his earlier failure by diving over in the corner a minute into the second-half.

Priestland was off the mark with the conversion attempt but stretched his side's advantage with a third successful penalty, only for Paterson to respond in similar fashion in the 56th minute.

Davies gave a timely reminder to Wales coach Warren Gatland of his return to fitness, as he capped a man-of-the-match display with a try, romping over having successfully fended off the home tacklers. Priestland once again converted to make it 21-9 to Nigel Davies' side.

And there was further good news for Gatland as fly-half Stephen Jones made his return from a shoulder injury by coming on for the final 17 minutes.

The introduction of fresh legs appeared to spark Edinburgh into life, with replacements Greig Laidlaw and Simon Webster combining to send Webster storming over, only for the score to be chalked off after the final pass was deemed to have gone forward.

Hope of a late comeback was fuelled when Paterson crossed the whitewash to finish off a clinical move for a converted score, but the visitors withstood a late onslaught to clinch the win.