Kings Royally Beaten By Strong Scarlets Performance

With last week’s disappointing result nothing but a distant memory, the Scarlets were back in Parc y Scarlets aiming to continue with their impressive home run with victory over the Southern Kings.
Centre, Jonathan Davies returned to captain the team after picking up a hamstring strain warming up against Ulster. Impressive youngster, Dan Davis made his first League start to replace the injured James Davies whilst new signings, Marc Jones and Angus O’Brien looked set to make their debuts off the bench.
Head Coach, Wayne Pivac commented before the game, ‘The Kings have probably given everyone a wake-up call with their performance, obviously we play the way we did against Connacht and we’ll find every match tough. We have to keep working hard and make sure that we improve.”
The Scarlets were offered an early attacking opportunity with Rhys Patchell kicking for the corner rather than opting for the three points, but the confidence of the Kings was evident, and they were soon back in attack.
A break from Rhys Patchell in mid-field saw Johnny McNicholl throw a try-scoring pass to the returning Jonathan Davies who crossed for the first try of the evening. A superb conversion from Patchell put the Scarlets ahead by 7 points to 0.
Try number two was on the cards minutes later, but a handling error cost the Scarlets, before Paul Asquith’s dummy foiled the Kings’ defence and the Centre was over under the posts. Patchell added the simple conversion to extend the Scarlets’ lead to 14 points to 0.
However, the Kings looked dangerous in attack and for once found a hole in the Scarlets’ defence, with Clayton Blommetjies unable to hold Wing, Bjorn Basson in the tackle as he squeezed over out wide. Massixole Banda added the conversion to narrow the Scarlets’ lead to 14 point to 7.
The defensive efforts of Southern Kings were again under pressure with Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Paul Asquith combining to release Jonathan Davies who crossed for his brace of tries. Again, Patchell was on target with adding the extras with a simple conversion attempt to extend the Scarlets’ lead to 21 points to 7.
Just when it looked likely that the Scarlets would have the bonus point all wrapped up by half time, the Kings had obviously missed the memo and again found gaping holes in the Scarlets’ defence, with the two Classen combining in the Centre before releasing Basson for his brace of tries. Again, Banda added the extras and the Kings were back within seven points – 21 points to 14 as half time loomed.
It took just two minutes of the second half before another burst in midfield from Jonathan Davies released Ioan Nicholas who dived over in the corner to secure the Scarlets’ try bonus point. Patchell maintained his 100% kicking record to give the Scarlets the lead by 28 points to 14.
The Scarlets’ fifth try was truly a masterclass in driving line-outs. Another kick for the corner from Patchell put the home team in a great attacking position. Securing the line-out the Scarlets forwards drove forward towards the try-line and there was nothing the Kings could do to stop the Scarlets’ juggernaut with Dan Davis claiming the try. Patchell added the extras to give the men in Scarlet a commanding 35 points to 14 lead.
With the Scarlets replacements on in force, another driving maul saw replacement Prop, Simon Gardiner power his way over for the Scarlets’ sixth try of the evening. Unfortunately, Angus O’Brien was just wide with his tricky conversion attempt as the Scarlets’ increased their lead to 40 points to 14.
Steff Evans made a welcome return to try scoring ways, gratefully receiving a pass from David Bulbring to Evans who crossed the whitewash. Angus O’Brien added the extras to put the Scarlets ahead by 47 points to 14.
With just seconds remaining of the game, the home team added an eighth try from replacement Scrum Half, Kieran Hardy after a lovely chip from O’Brien, who also added the simple conversion to give a final score of 54 point to 14.
Next week is the big one – as the Scarlets face their arch enemies the Ospreys in the first local derby of the season.