North back with a bang

Welsh international winger George North scored a try on his return to action as the Scarlets snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Edinburgh 11-3.

North crossed the line for the game's only try to help the Welsh side end their dismal run of form with a narrow Magners League win at Parc y Scarlets.

The 18-year-old North went over for what proved to be a crucial score in the first half in his first match for three months since undergoing shoulder surgery.

And his performance would have encouraged Wales coach Warren Gatland ahead of the final two RBS Six Nations matches against Ireland and France.

Despite being weakened the victory in rain-drenched conditions helped the Scarlets back in to the all-important top four places in the Magners League.

Lead

The Scarlets led 8-3 at the interval, but their lead should have been more given the greater possession and territory they enjoyed in the opening 40 minutes.

After Dan Newton had given the Scarlets the lead with a fourth minute penalty lively scrum-half Gareth Davies, who was named man of the match, made it over the line but was unable to ground the ball.

And from that position Edinburgh were forced to survive four five metre scrums in a match dominated by the whistle of referee Dudley Phillips.

The Scarlets eventually got a deserved try on 21 minutes when North forced his way over down the right following an impressive handling move by the home side after Scott Williams had ripped the ball at a maul.

From 8-0 up the Scarlets looked to build on that lead but Edinburgh scored next with a David Blair penalty after wing Joe Ajuwa failed to roll away at a ruck.

Sin bin

But the Scarlets had much the better of the exchanges especially when Edinburgh flanker Fraser McKenzie was sin-binned for a high tackle on North on 34 minutes.

At the start of the second half Blair missed two crucial penalty attempts on 42 and 49 minutes.

By contrast Newton put over his own penalty on 56 minutes which crucially put the Scarlets two scores ahead.

Newton missed a penalty seven minutes later. Edinburgh came into the game in the last 20 minutes but failed to add to their score.