Scarlets cruise past Cheetahs to stay in the hunt

Editor

Scarlets kept alive their hopes of making the PRO14 play-offs courtesy of a deserved 43-21 win over the Cheetahs at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday.

The Welsh region were full value for their victory as they were in control for most of the match, although the sides had a fair share of the territory and possession.

Scarlets made their intentions known from the outset by giving the ball plenty of air and that tactic paid off as they secured a try-scoring bonus-point midway through the half when Josh Macleod dotted down.

They eventually outscored the men from Bloemfontein by six tries to three with Uzair Cassiem, Johnny McNicholl, Kieron Fonotia, Wyn Jones and Paul Asquith also crossing the whitewash. Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny impressed on his return to action with an 11-point contribution courtesy of four conversions and a penalty, and Dan Jones also added a conversion.

For the Cheetahs, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Sibhale Maxwane and Gerhardus Olivier scored tries which were all converted by Tian Schoeman.

The home side hit the ground running with Cassiem opening the scoring as early as the third minute. Scarlets continued to dominate and were leading 28-0 by the 20th minute after McNicholl, Fonotia and Macleod dotted down during a 10-minute period when everything seemed to go right for them.

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However, they were dealt a blow three minutes later when McNicholl was yellow carded for slowing the ball cynically on defence and the Cheetahs made full use of their numerical advantage when Janse van Rensburg scored their first try in the 28th minute.

The visitors finished the half stronger and Maxwane was rewarded with his try shortly before half-time, after good work from Abongile Nonkontwana in the build-up.

Scarlets made a bright start via Jones’ try shortly after the restart but the Cheetahs responded with Olivier’s try in the 52nd minute.

That was the last time the visitors would score points and although the rest of the half was evenly contested, the Scarlets sealed their win in the 69th minute when Asquith scored their sixth try.