Scarlets beat Munster to top PRO12 standings
Last Updated: 24/10/15 3:43pm
A penalty from Steven Shingler at the death gave Scarlets a 22-19 win over Munster and saw them top the PRO12 after five rounds.
Scarlets trailed for much of Friday's match, and it looked destined to end in a stalemate as the the two top sides battled it out at Parc y Scarlets, before the referee awarded Scarlets a late penalty - right on the edge of Shingler's range.
The fly-half stepped up and calming slotted the attempt, giving his side the win with no time remaining.
The win is the fifth of the season for the Welsh side, while they reduced their guests to their first loss of the season. Edinburgh are the only other unbeaten side in the competition.
Scarlets scored two tries, through DTH van der Merwe and replacement Tom Williams, while Shingler added 15 points with the boot.
Shingler's opposite number Ian Keatley scored 17 points of his own, including the conversion from the lone try from Andrew Conway.
Keatley opened the scoring for the visitors with an early penalty from long range, slotting it for a 3-0 lead after four minutes.
The two sides endured several handling errors throughout the first half, but particularly in the opening exchanges, which meant that scoring opportunities were limited.
There was one sweeping move from Scarlets that nearly ended in a try, but a knock-on with the line begging kept the Munster line clean.
It was the visiting side who crossed the opposition line first. When a pass from the Scarlets did not go to hand, full-back Conway hacked ahead three times before chasing down the ball and dotting it down. The TMO was asked to take a look at it, and once he had given the score the all-clear, Keatley sent the conversion through the uprights.
Munster's 10-point lead did not last long, Shingler scoring with his first penalty of the half two minutes later.
The two fly-halves traded penalties late in the half to make it 13-6 at the break.
Tom Williams entered the fray in the second half, and was pivotal to the three defining moments of the third quarter. His midfield break led to a Van der Merwe's try in the left corner, which went unconverted.
The replacement then dived on a loose ball to score in the other corner. The conversion was missed once again, but a Keatley penalty came between the tries, leaving the scores locked at 16-16.
Williams was then caught putting in a high tackle on Conway, and was sent to the bin for 10 minutes. Keatley missed the shot at goal but snapped a drop goal in the 60th minute before Shingler eradicated the score from the tee shortly thereafter.
