Scarlets stop the rot

Dan Newton: created Scarlets' second try

Scarlets ended a four-match RaboDirect PRO12 losing streak with a bonus-point victory over Edinburgh.

Centre Adam Warren, who stepped in when skipper Gareth Maule was injured in the warm-up, went over for a try in each half on his league debut for Scarlets. The Welsh side also crossed for tries from Richie Pugh and Rhys Thomas.

The Scarlets got on the board first with a penalty goal for outside-half Aled Thomas.

The slender 3-0 lead grew to 10-0 as an attempted clearance kick rebounded and Warren picked up and slid over for Aled Thomas to convert.

Scarlets further extended their early lead when Aled Thomas added a second penalty after Edinburgh had pulled down in the line-out.

But an infringement from prop Rhys Thomas got Edinburgh back in the game as scrum-half Greig Laidlaw kicked a penalty from in front of the posts.

There was a controversial moment when Edinburgh were given a try after 31 minutes when lock Sean Cox put Tim Visser in at the left corner, with the home crowd convinced there had been a knock-on in the lead-up.

A strong Scarlets scrum was responsible for setting up Warren's second try. The home pack pushed Edinburgh off their own ball. Possession was moved quickly, with full-back Dan Newton bursting through to give Warren a 15 metre run-in.

Struggle

Edinburgh lost centre John Houston to the sin-bin after 51 minutes and their scrum continued to struggle as the Scarlets dominated a series of set-pieces. Eventually the Welsh region had to move the ball with the result that Pugh squeezed over for the third try.

But then came a converted try for wing Lee Jones, who rounded two tackles to run in from halfway and cut the Scarlets advantage to six points.

However, with 10 minutes remaining Aled Thomas kicked his third penalty and that was followed by the bonus-point try as prop Rhys Thomas crossed, with his namesake adding the extras.