Scarlets crush Aironi

Jonathan Davies scored a hat-trick as the Scarlets crushed Magners League newcomers Aironi 49-10 at Parc y Scarlets.

The Welsh region were given few problems by the Italian side as they ran in six tries in all, the other scorers Andy Fenby, George North and Martin Roberts, while Stephen Jones kicked 19 points.

There was a late consolation try for Aironi through former Munster No 8 Nick Williams.

It took a bit of time for the Scarlets to get into their stride due to a number of handling errors and as the match headed to the half-hour mark they led just 6-3 through two Jones penalties. Aironi fly-half Ludovic Mercier kicked a penalty, but also missed two others on seven and 27 minutes.

But the Scarlets were sent on their way to victory with a try for Fenby after flanker Johnathan Edwards had exploited a big gap in the defence.

Aironi, who are still looking for their first Magners win, did have a chance of an interception try but wing Danwel Demas dropped the ball.

The Scarlets went in at half-time with a healthy 18-3 lead after teenage wing North scrambled over in the right corner after an impressive passing move.

The home side continued to dominate after the break helped by a 41st minute Jones penalty before they scored four more tries in the space of 25 minutes.

Brilliantly-timed

On 50 minutes Davies began his hat-trick with a fine 30-metre run-in after a brilliantly-timed pass from his fellow centre Regan King.

Eight minutes later Davies was over again to celebrate the Scarlets' bonus point as victory was assured with Aironi flanker Jaco Erasmus in the sin bin.

But there was more to come from the Scarlets. Roberts, the replacement scrum-half, darted over under the posts, before Davies completed his hat-trick five minutes from the end.

Despite Williams' last-minute consolation try, a long, hard season looks in prospect for the Italian side.

As for Scarlets, this was a second successive bonus-point win after victory over Connacht last weekend and it takes them up to second in the Magners League table behind Ulster.