Edinburgh defeat depleted Scarlets

Edinburgh ended their Magners League campaign with a comprehensive 29-12 bonus point win over a weakened Scarlets side at Stradey Park.

The Scarlets, who were minus seven internationals including Stephen Jones, Mark Jones, and Sale-bound Dwayne Peel, had caretaker coach Paul Moriarty in charge for a second week following Phil Davies' shock departure.

But he could not stop the Welsh region from slipping to their fourth consecutive defeat.

But though Edinburgh, who are unbeaten in Wales this season and returned from a last gasp win at the Ospreys last week, were much the more impressive side they had to come from behind to lead 12-7 at the interval on their way to 29 unanswered points.

In warm sunshine in south Wales the Scarlets, led out by Matthew Watkins who was playing his 150th game for the region, made the more encouraging start and with a bulk of the early possession were rewarded with the first score on fourteen minutes.

Good approach work by centre Gavin Evans saw the ball moved left and Deacon Manu put his fellow front row colleague Mahonri Schwalger in.

The hooker used his bulk to crash over with outside-half Rhys Priestland converting from wide out.

But after that Edinburgh, unbeaten in their previous four Magners encounters, fought back impressively.

Centre Ben Cairns put Ben Gissing through a gap and the big second row found the line from 30 metres out for Andrew MacRae to convert.

And six minutes before half-time a fine, long floated pass from outside-half Phil Godman found Andrew Turnbull in space on the right and he side-stepped his way over for the Scots' second try.

Edinburgh's grip on the contest tightened just three minutes into the second half when the skipper Ali Hogg crashed over after good work by Mike Blair and Matt Mustchin.

And four minutes later the enterprising Scots had a bonus point in the bag with a fourth try scored by Mike Blair, who was put in by Nick de Luca following a catch and drive line-out. The Godman conversion gave Edinburgh a 26-7 lead.

The Scarlets tried hard to get back on the scoreboard but could only watch as Edinburgh's lead was extended to 22 points with a David Blair penalty on 70 minutes.

But in the dying minutes the home side did stop the rot with an unconverted try form Dafydd James in the right corner.

The scorers:

For Scarlets:

Tries: Schwalger, James

Con: Priestland

For Edinburgh:

Tries: Gissing, Turnbull, Hogg, Blair

Con: MacRae, Godman 2

Pen: Blair

Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Dafydd James, 13 Matthew Watkins, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Nathan Brew, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Liam Davies, 8 James Bater, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Simon Easterby (c), 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Vernon Cooper, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Phil John.

Replacements: 16 Iestyn Thomas, 17 Ken Owens, 18 Lou Reed, 19 Nathan Thomas, 20 Gavin Cattle, 21 Ceiron Thomas, 22 Darren Daniel.

Edinburgh: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Calum MacRae, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Andrew Turnbull, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, 8 David Callam, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Allister Hogg (c), 5 Ben Gissing, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Augusto Allori.

Replacements: 16 Steve Lawrie, 17 Allan Jacobsen, 18 Craig Hamilton, 19 Scott Newlands, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 Mark Robertson.

Referee: D Wilkinson (IRFU)