Scarlets kept their Champions Cup contention alive with 23-13 Pro12 win over Leinster
Last Updated: 08/03/15 5:06pm
Scarlets pulled off an impressive 23-13 win over Leinster at Parc y Scarlets in the Pro12 on Saturday.
The win keeps Champions Cup qualification on the cards for Scarlets, who remain outside the top six but are only three points behind Connacht who lost to Cardiff on Friday night.
It was a win that reflected the dominance of the home team as John Barclay, Jordan Williams and Rory Pitman all crossed the whitewash while Steven Shingler and Rhys Priestland shared the kicking duties.
Both sides benefited from the return of their internationals as Cian Healy appeared in the Leinster strip for the first time since September while Scott Williams made his first appearnace in six weeks.
It was Scarlets who opened the scoring through the boot of Shingler, but their control was short-lived as Leinster appeared to grow into the encounter.
It was the Irishmen who scored the first try of the game through former NRL star Ben Te'o who ran a brilliant angle to complete a good passage of play from the whole team as they worked their way into the opposition's 22.
Leinster conceded in the 30th minute when good hands from the backs resulted in a stretch in the corner by Scotland international John Barclay, whose try was confirmed after a referral to the TMO.
Shingler missed the conversion, meaning at the break Leinster were slightly ahead 10-8.
Scarlets were first on the scoreboard in the 11th minute of the second half when the ball was sent through the hands before Kiwi centre Regan King put full-back Jordan Williams in for a try which Shingler converted.
Gopperth reduced the deficit shortly thereafter with a long-range penalty goal, but a try from Pitman as well as a penalty from replacement Rhys Priestland gave the home side a vital wni with just five rounds of competition remaining.
