Lamont try saves Scarlets

Scarlets sealed a dramatic 35-33 bonus-point victory against Connacht on Saturday thanks to a Sean Lamont try deep into injury time.

The hosts had looked to be heading for their second straight defeat after an error strewn display at Parc y Scarlets until Lamont crossed seven minutes after the clock had struck 80 minutes.

Scarlets' tries came through Jonathan Davies (two), Regan King and Lamont, with 15 points kicked by Stephen Jones in a game that saw the scores level on four occasions.

Connacht are sure to feel hard done by following a committed performance that saw a try hat-trick from Fionn Carr and 18 points from the boot of outside-half Ian Keatley.

The visitors made an impressive start with penalties from Ian Keatley putting them 6-0 ahead after 10 minutes.

Stephen Jones added three for Scarlets before Jonathan Davies crossed for a finely worked try from the home side's first real attack.

Impressive

Jones neatly put Samoan lock Jonny Fa'amatuainu into a gap before King sent his fellow centre over for the score.

Jones converted and added three more with another penalty to open up a 13-6 lead but Connacht replied almost immediately to level the scores.

An impressive team effort saw full-back Gavin Duffy collect Jones' restart before the ball was moved quickly to left wing Carr, who ran in the try.

But when Connacht skipper Frank Murphy was sin-binned for a high tackle on Scarlets full-back Andy Fenby the hosts pushed home the man advantage.

Davies collected a Jones chip and put King over by the posts during injury time at the end of the first half.

Despite missing Murphy at the restart the visitors were back on level pegging within five minutes when Carr ran 60 metres for his second try and Keatley converted to make it 20 apiece.

Nerve jangling

Scarlets got their noses in front again on 62 minutes when Jones slotted a penalty through but Connacht responded one of their own minutes later.

Soon after Carr cut inside to complete his treble and put the Irish side 30-23 up before suffering their second sin-binning when Ronan Loughney was pinged for kicking the ball out of a ruck.

That transgression provided the platform for Scarlets to tie the scores at 30-30 as Davies went in for his second try.

Keatley slotted over his fourth penalty to put the visitors into the lead for only the second time in the contest.

But it wasn't to be for the Irish side when Lamont closed out a nerve jangling finish with his late try.