Edinburgh too good for Scarlets in vital intra-conference clash

Colin Newboult

Edinburgh overturned a half-time deficit to score 20 unanswered points and defeat the Scarlets 20-12 in their crucial PRO14 Conference B encounter.

Wayne Pivac’s men controlled the first period and deservedly took a 12-0 advantage into the interval via tries from Gareth Davies and Jonathan Davies.

Back came the Scottish outfit, however, as Matt Scott and Jaco van der Walt both touched down, while the fly-half kicked 10 points from the tee, to take them to an important win.

Thanks to that fine second half showing, the Murrayfield-based team are just three points behind Ulster, with Pivac’s charges adrift in fifth.

It continues a poor season for the Welsh region, who will now struggle to reach the top three. Even their returning internationals couldn’t quite inspire the Llanelli team, despite them initially showing much more certainty in their play.

Scrum-half Davies was typically sharp and displayed his try-scoring instincts to go over early on. Leigh Halfpenny, who is starting to find some form after three months out due to concussion, provided the assist before his Wales team-mate did the rest.

Richard Cockerill’s men were struggling for fluency and they were also failing to stop the hosts’ talented backline. This time slick hands allowed Jonathan Davies a free run to the line, giving the Scarlets a deserved 12-point buffer.

It was an advantage they would hold at the break, despite a yellow card for Ken Owens for collapsing a maul inside his own 22. However, Edinburgh were beginning to tighten up their game, with their scrum in the ascendancy and, as a result, they started to create chances.

The Scottish outfit initially failed to benefit but, following Van der Walt’s three-pointer, they finally crossed the whitewash via Scott.

That effort gave them the momentum they needed and the hosts duly faltered. With Cockerill’s charges more assured in defence, the Welsh region forced the pass, leading to an interception score for the away team’s fly-half.

Van der Walt converted his own try before the pivot added a second three-pointer to seal a crucial victory in their hunt to finish in the play-offs.

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Edinburgh are still in fourth, however, after Benetton rescued a superb 27-27 draw against Leinster in Dublin. The Italians went into the break 13-6 up through Luca Bigi’s try and a brace of Tommaso Allan penalties, but scores from James Lowe, Bryan Byrne and Ciaran Frawley turned it around in the second period.

At 27-20 in front going into the final minute, the defending champions looked set to claim another victory, but Iliesa Ratuva had other ideas, touching down with the last play of the game. Allan converted to level matters and garner two points, which moved them closer to Ulster in the table.

Elsewhere in the PRO14, Connacht boosted their hopes of a top three finish in Conference A following a tight and scrappy 6-5 triumph over Zebre in a dire game.

Although the Italians scored the only try of the contest when Mattia Bellini touched down, two Jack Carty penalties in the first half was enough for the Irish province to claim a vital win.

Meanwhile, the Ospreys put their recent financial troubles behind them to overcome the Cheetahs 31-14 in Bloemfontein. Dan Evans, Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric and Cory Allen all went over as they sealed a comfortable victory.