URC – Ill-discipline Almost Cost Scarlets The Win Against Cardiff Rugby

 

Scarlets continued their fine form against Cardiff Rugby(25-19) for a fifth successive win at the Arms Park in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Scarlets celebrated their win despite their indiscipline, with wing Tom Rogers and captain Josh Macleod shown second-half yellow cards after lock Sam Lousi had been sent to the sin-bin early on.

Ioan Lloyd converted a long-range penalty to double the lead, before Cardiff secured their first points of the day with a well-worked try for wing Harri Millard, following a clever offload from flanker Dan Thomas.

Scarlets responded with a flowing try of their own with fly-half Ioan Lloyd and hooker Marnus van der Merwe carrying hard and scrum-half Gareth Davies finishing off the move.

Harri Millard denied Scarlets a second score when wing Blair Murray produced a burst down the left-hand side, with his inside pass seemingly leaving number eight Taine Plumtree with the line at his mercy.

Wing Harri Millard had other ideas with a try-saving tackle, and he then went up the other end and scored following clever passing from Dan Thomas and full-back Cam Winnett.

Callum Sheedy, who had replaced the injured De Beer, missed the conversion as Cardiff led 12-11 at half-time.

Scarlets, playing into the wind in the second half, responded with a second try for Gareth Davies with Sam Lousi providing a smart offload before an Ioan Lloyd break released his half-back partner.

Scarlets kept up the pressure and after some smart play from Taine Plumtree, Scarlets scored a simple midfield try with Eddie James releasing impressive co-centre Johnny Williams scored.

Scarlets' discipline then let them down as referee Craig Evans showed Tom Rogers a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Captain Josh Macleod joined Tom Rogers in the sin-bin after collapsing a maul, which resulted in a penalty try as the visitors were reduced to 13 men.

Cardiff ultimately failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and the Scarlets fans were sent home happy from the Arms Park with a 25-19 win.

Scorers:
Cardiff Rugby: Tries: Harri Millard (2), Penalty Try. Conversion: Tinus de Beer.
Scarlets: Tries: Gareth Davies (2), Johnny Williams. Conversions: Ioan Lloyd (2). Penalties: Ioan Lloyd (2).

Teams:

Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas (c), 11 Harri Millard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Dan Thomas, 8 Alun Lawrence, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Efan Daniel, 1 Ed Byrne. Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Mackenzie Martin, 20 James Botham, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Josh Macleod (c), 5 Max Douglas, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Kemsley Mathias. Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page.