The Scarlets hosted the Emirates Lions in Round 2 of the United Rugby Championship. The Scarlets winning 36-13 after they used most of their opportunities to score while the Lions' decision making must be questioned.
The Emirates Lions played a very different game than that against Zebre. A much more controlled and measured game by the visitors which saw their normally brilliant attacking abilities reduced to one-off efforts by their backs. The Scarlets went into halftime with 20-06, however, the Lions did not deserve such a big margin against them.
The second "half" belonged to the Lions, however, the home team was a lot more clinical which gave them the edge. The Scarlets were just quicker and more precise in everything they did on the pitch.
04:39 Rob Evans force his way over the Lions tryline after the Scarlets camped in the red zone of the Lions (07-00).
12:54 Jordan Hendrikse converted a penalty to open the Lions account. The momentum is slowly turning in the favour of the Lions at that stage (07-03).
18:50 Scarlets' winger Tom Rogers strolled over for the Scarlets second try. Great passing by the home team proved too much for the Lions defence (14-03).
20:00 The Lions overcame the initial onslaught by the Scarlets and clawed their way back into the. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Scarlets stretched their lead to 14-03 just before the end of the 1st quarter. The score was maybe is not a true reflection of the play on the pitch. The Lions are kicking a lot and will only run with the ball when they are in the Scarlets' half.
27:36 Sam Costelow converted a penalty for the Scarlets (17-03).
32:18 Jordan Hendrikse convert his 2nd penalty for the Lions (19-06).
38:40 Sam Costelow converted his 2nd penalty for the Scarlets (20-06).
40:00 The Scarlets is not as in control as the halftime score would suggest. The Lions are their worst own enemy as their normal sparkling attack has been reduced to one-off attacks by individual players. The Lions' lineouts have cost them at least two attacking opportunities inside the 22m of their opponents. However, the Scarlets is also hampered with the number of penalties they have conceded in the first half.
59:58 Ruben Schoeman scored the Lions 1st try after they spent 5 minutes on the Scarlets tryline. The Lions attacked with pickup and go's which eventually paid off (20-13).
60:00 The 3rd quarter belonged to the Lions as they started to dominate proceedings, however, they did refuse several attempts to convert penalties that could prove to be extremely costly.
62:56 Sam Costelow converted the Scarlets' 3rd penalty (23-13).
65:33 Rabz Maxwane (Lions) was sent off for 10 minutes.
66:22 Sam Costelow converted his 4th penalty to extend the Scarlets lead (26-13).
69:43 A long-distance try by Tom Rogers after the Lions made a mistake in the Scarlets half (31-13).
78:43 Steff Evans scored the Scarlets 4th and bonus point try after splitting the defence of the visitors (36-13)
Scorers:
Scarlets: Tries: Rob Evans, Tom Rogers (2), Steff Evans. Conversion: Sam Costelow (2). Penalty: Sam Costelow (4).
Emirates Lions: Try: Ruben Schoeman. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse. Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse (2).
Emirates Lions: 15. EW Viljoen, 14. Jamba Ulengo, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Burger Odendaal (c), 11. Rabz Maxwane, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Andre Warner, 8. Francke Horn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Pieter Jansen Van Vuren, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Ruan Dreyer. Replacements: 16. PJ Botha, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19. Reinhard Nothnagel, 20. Sibusiso Sangweni, 21. Morne van den Berg, 22. Eddie Fouche, 23. Divan Rossouw.
Scarlets: 15. Johnny McNicholl, 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Jonathan Davies (c), 12. Scott Williams, 11. Steff Evans, 10. Sam Costelow, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8. Sione Kalamafoni, 7. Dan Davis, 6. Blade Thomson, 5. Tom Price, 4. Jac Price, 3. WillGriff John, 2. Ryan Elias, 1. Rob Evans. Replacements: 16. Marc Jones, 17. Phil Price, 18. Samson Lee, 19. Morgan Jones, 20. Shaun Evans, 21. Dane Blacker, 22. Dan Jones, 23. Ioan Nicholas.