Scarlets draw Wasps' sting

Rhys Priestland booted Scarlets a little closer to the semi-finals of the LV= Cup as his six penalties clinched an 18-13 victory over Wasps.

The fly-half landed all-but one of his attempts at goal to help the Magners League side secure a third straight triumph in the Anglo-Welsh event.

Wasps managed the only two tries of the game through Tom Varndell, but a poor kicking display from Dave Walder cost them dear in the final reckoning.

The fly-half landed just one of his five efforts at the posts, including two penalty attempts in a second half that the hosts completely dominated.

Accuracy

Priestland had no such problems when it came to finding the target, his four first-half penalties putting the visitors, who had Wales hooker Matthew Rees starting in an otherwise youthful line-up, 12-10 ahead at the break.

Not until they were 9-0 down did Wasps begin to play, with the centre pairing of Steve Kefu and Ben Jacobs causing plenty of problems.

It was a Kefu break that eventually led to Varndell's first try, the winger showing a fine turn of pace to scoot over virtually untouched down the left.

Walder was unable to add the conversion from out wide, though, Priestland soon showing him how it should be done by knocking over a penalty from tight to the right touchline.

Wasps, however, closed the gap to two points at the break thanks to a second try for Varndell, who this time popped up on the right to score.

The former Leicester Tiger, who at times hobbled around due to an ankle injury, created enough space for himself to hold off Scarlets full-back Daniel Evans and plant the ball down over the line.

The scores would have been level at the interval had Walder converted, and the number 10 continued to have his problems off the tee in the second half.

Brief lead

He did manage to slot over a 49th minute penalty, giving Wasps the lead for the first time in the match. It would also be the last time they were ahead.

Straight from the re-start Scarlets won a penalty and Priestland pushed them back into a lead that they defended as if their lives depended on it.

Yet twice the normally reliable Walder could have put the Guinness Premiership team into the lead again - the number 10 missing with a pair of long-range penalties, the second of which had to reviewed by the television official to see if it had gone over the top of the left upright.

Perhaps fittingly then it was Priestland who had the final say, his sixth penalty from right in front pushing the Scarlets, who now top Pool 2 with a perfect record, well clear in the closing minutes.