\n<\/p>\n
Scarlets (27) 37<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Tries: <\/strong>Davis, Mathias, G Davies, McNicholl<\/span> Cons: <\/strong>Costelow 3, Jones<\/span> Pens: <\/strong>Costelow 3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Bulls (14) 28<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Tries:<\/strong> Burger, Jacobs, Brink, Swansepol <\/span>Cons: <\/strong>Smith 4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | Scarlets’ impressive run of form continued as they secured a bonus-point victory over Bulls in Llanelli.<\/span><\/p>\n The hosts had led with first-half tries from Dan Davis, Kemsley Mathias and Gareth Davies.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But the South African side bullied their way back into the contest with Cyle Brink and Janko Swansepol adding to Zak Burger and Stravino Jacobs’ efforts. <\/span><\/p>\n Johnny McNicholl scored late on to give Scarlets a much needed league win. <\/span><\/p>\n Dwayne Peel’s side have now won seven of their last eight games, including a clean sweep in the European Challenge Cup Pool stage.<\/span><\/p>\n The result also lifted Scarlets above Dragons to 15th in the URC table, while Bulls are fourth. <\/span><\/p>\n Bulls had beaten Scarlets 57-12 when the two sides last met at in South Africa, but the visitors’ busy travel schedule looked to have taken its toll in west Wales.<\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets started with confidence in front of a good home crowd and took an early lead when Bulls conceded a penalty on the kick chase, which Sam Costelow slotted over in what was an impressive 15 point haul for the young fly-half.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls hit back on their first attack, a gap opened up in the Scarlets defence which allowed Burger an easy snipe under the posts.<\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets re-took the lead through in-form flanker Davis, who cut through the defence with a neat sidestep before twisting and turning his way to the line for a try awarded by the Television Match Official (TMO).<\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets added another as Mathias muscled over after a spell of forward pressure. <\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets continued to express themselves in an entertaining first half, with Dan Davis again making good inroads on a counter attack before Costelow kicked downfield to a willing chaser in Gareth Davies who scooped up the ball before crossing.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls looked dangerous, but their uncharacteristic errors let the the hosts off the hook. <\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets kept the scoreboard ticking over, opting for posts when Bulls conceded a penalty at the breakdown, with Costelow continuing his 100% record from the tee. <\/span><\/p>\n The hosts’ momentum was halted five minutes before the half when centre Joe Roberts was shown a yellow card for diving through the ruck when Bulls were on a promising attack.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls made them pay almost immediately, a cross-field kick saw Jacobs outleap Costelow to crash over the line.<\/span><\/p>\n Roberts returned shortly after the break to boost Scarlets, who after scuppering a five metre driving lineout, chose to kick for posts when the next penalty came on offer. Costelow was on target once more.<\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets then repaid the favour after conceding a penalty on the restart, but Bulls blew their chance.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls then grew into the game and looked a different side as they started to dominate and eventually converted pressure into points when their big forward carriers gave Brink the opportunity to crash over.<\/span><\/p>\n Costelow made way for Dan Jones as Scarlets looked to re-take control of territory and possession, but they began to cough up penalties as Bulls piled on the pressure. <\/span><\/p>\n They bagged a deserved bonus-point try on the hour when the giant prop Swansepol crashed over, Smith adding the extras to give Scarlets a narrow lead.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls could have taken the lead with a kickable penalty, but in a buoyant mood they kicked for the corner, but Scarlets defended well and Dafydd Hughes won a vital turnover which allowed them to clear their lines.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls continued to turn down kickable penalties, once again opting for the corner, but knocked on much to Scarlets’ relief as the clock ticked on. <\/span><\/p>\n Those decisions proved costly as Scarlets broke on a rare counter attack, with Bulls wing David Kriel shown a yellow card for an illegal tackle on Ryan Conbeer.<\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets took advantage of the extra man and quick hands released McNicholl on the far side to score and send the crowd wild.<\/span><\/p>\n McNicholl almost added a second in a breathless finale, but the final ball failed to find Dane Blacker, but it did not matter as the final whistle blew for a hard-fought victory for the home side. <\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel told BBC Sport Wales: <\/strong>“It was a tale of two halves, I thought first half we were particularly good, we started really sprightly and got over the line.<\/span><\/p>\n “And then second half, I felt like they came after us physically in those tight areas, which we knew they would. <\/span><\/p>\n “I did feel like we were a bit naive, we didn’t respect territory enough. But I am really pleased to come back at the end, credit to the forwards, there were a couple of times when they ignored going for three points, and we held them out, it was a huge defensive set up.<\/span><\/p>\n “I am delighted with the win because they are a top-end team, they came here fully-loaded, so it’s a big, big win for us, this season and in general.”<\/span><\/p>\n Scarlets:<\/strong> Johnny McNicholl; Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Ioan Nicholas, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Daf Hughes, Sam Wainwright, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Aaron Shingler (capt), Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni.<\/span><\/p>\n Replacements: <\/em>Taylor Davies, Steff Thomas, Harri O’Connor, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Dane Blacker, Dan Jones, Eddie James.<\/span><\/p>\n Bulls: <\/strong>Johan Goosen; David Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Chris Smith, Zak Burger; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (capt), Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink, Elrigh Louw.<\/span><\/p>\n Replacements:<\/em> Jan Hendrik Wessels, Francois Klopper, Simphiwe Matanzima, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Cornal Hendriks, Wandisile Simelane.<\/span><\/p>\n Match officials<\/strong><\/p>\n |