Scarlets overwhelm Aironi

Late try for Fenby

Prop Rhys Thomas and winger Andy Fenby scored second-half tries as Scarlets won their RaboDirect Pro12 opener against Aironi 32-9.

An error-strewn match saw the Welsh side struggle to finish off their Italian rivals, who were on level terms early in the second-half before Thomas crossed to put daylight between the sides.

Fly-half Dan Newton kicked 19 points for the Scarlets, who were without 10 regulars on World Cup duty while Aironi, who propped up last year's table, have 11 out in New Zealand.

But it was the visitors who took an eighth-minute lead through a penalty from new South African acquisition Naas Olivier.

Pressure

With the Scarlets scrum in the ascendancy, Aironi did well to withstand pressure on their own line, holding up number eight Ben Morgan just short.

But after a half break by the fit-again Fenby, Newton levelled matters on 23 minutes.

With heavy rain ruining the game as any sort of spectacle, the Scarlets were struggling to get their running game going and were punished again on 26 minutes by the boot of Olivier.

Newton made it 6-6 after a break by centre Rhodri Gomer-Davies, then put his side in front for the first time seven minutes before half-time as Aironi continued to infringe.

It led to scrum-half Tito Tebaldi being shown a yellow card, although the Italians were able to hold out until half-time just 9-6 down.

And Aironi were back on level terms six minutes after the restart with a third penalty from Olivier.

Burst

Parc y Scarlets, though, finally came to life shortly afterwards with a superbly-crafted try by the home side from deep inside their own half.

Hooker Emyr Phillips made the initial burst down the touchline before the impressive Morgan powered through some fragile Aironi defence.

When the ball came wide, a couple of miss passes released prop Rhys Thomas hanging out on the wing and he finished off with a Chris Ashton-esque swallow dive in the corner.

Newton converted brilliantly from the touchline and suddenly the Scarlets had breathing space.

With the rain relenting, the home side started to take a stranglehold on proceedings and Newton extended his side's lead on 63 minutes with another penalty success.

A bullocking run from Thomas to the shadow of the posts gave Newton the opportunity to make it 22-9 to the Scarlets

And with three minutes remaining Fenby sent the Scarlets faithful home contented when he stripped the ball from the tiring visitors' to dive over.

Newton added the extras and his replacement Rhys Jones put a gloss on the scoreboard with three more points with the last kick of the match.