Scarlets stay on course
The Scarlets remain in the hunt for a PRO12 play-off place after claiming a bonus point in the 38-10 victory over Connacht.
Last Updated: 02/03/12 9:49pm
The Scarlets remain in the hunt for a PRO12 play-off place after claiming a bonus point in the 38-10 victory over Connacht.
The hosts crossed for five tries, with Stephen Jones kicking 13 points.
The Scarlets started slowly and it took them until the 17th minute to get on the scoreboard.
The first time they put some decent phases together they won a penalty but instead of going for the posts Jones kicked for territory.
And from another penalty five metres out, Scarlets chose a scrum, won a free kick and captain Gareth Maule put Andy Fenby over in the left corner. Jones added the extras to leave the home side 7-0 ahead.
However, hands in a ruck in their own 22 saw the Scarlets' lead reduced with a 24th-minute penalty for Connacht outside-half Miah Nikora.
It took the Scarlets time to make another big attack count but after 37 minutes prop Rhodri Jones crashed through a ruck to score from close range after some impressive build-up work to help give the home side a 14-3 interval advantage.
Dominance
The Scarlets scrum showed its dominance by earninga penalty on 46 minutes which Jones duly kicked to extend the home lead to 14 points.
And after Connacht forward John Muldoon was sin-binned just three minutes after entering the contest, the Scarlets scored their third converted try when hooker Emyr Phillips squeezed over by the posts.
From 24-3 up it took the Scarlets just another six minutes to seal the bonus point try when they turned over ball and number eight Kieran Murphy sprinted over.
With Peter Edwards in the bin Connacht went over for a try through replacement hooker Ethienne Reynecke.
But there was a final flourish for the home side when prop Phil John grabbed the fifth try in injury time, with Jones again successful from the conversion as the Wales ace finished with a 100% record with the boot.
