Scarlets made it three wins from three in the BKT United Rugby Championship with a 30-8 bonus-point victory over Zebre Parma at Parc y Scarlets.
Superb tries from Tom Rogers, Macs Page and Blair Murray sent the home side on their way to a maximum haul, with skipper Josh Macleod pouncing from close range to secure the five points.
An error-strewn first half meant the Scarlets led 11-8 at the break, but the game was transformed in the third quarter, to the delight of the Parc y Scarlets faithful.
Page’s sublime solo try was the undoubted highlight, but it was his midfield partner Eddie James who took the player-of-the-match award thanks to a display of power and finesse.
James’s slick handling was responsible for two of the tries, while he also continually put dents in the heart of the Zebre defence.
Early Scarlets pressure led to a fifth-minute penalty from the boot of Ioan Lloyd, only for Zebre to hit straight back from the restart through a lovely drop goal from full-back Geronimo Prischanitelli.
The visitors were ahead on eight minutes when wing Ben Cambriani pounced on a cross-field kick.
Scything counter-attacks from Tom Rogers and Ioan Lloyd threatened to produce the opening try, but Zebre’s cover managed to deny the hosts, who instead had to rely on a second penalty from Lloyd to reduce the deficit.
Scarlets then pounced for a well-crafted try down the right.
Slick hands from James freed the impressive Taine Plumtree, who sent Rogers racing down the touchline for his second try in as many games. Lloyd was wide with the conversion and despite further opportunities the score remained 11-8 at the interval.
Then came the razor-sharp double strike in the space of four minutes.
A clever line-out move saw James put Page slicing through the gap in midfield 50 metres out, the 19-year-old still had plenty to do, but showed an incredible turn of pace to stand up the full-back and race clear.
It got better quickly for the home fans.
This time it was Plumtree who cut the line before sending his house-mate Murray over for try number three.
The fourth try, on 56 minutes, came via a more direct route. A close-range line-out rumble looked to be held up, but Macleod managed to snatch the ball away and touch down. Lloyd converted to make it 30-8.
With the result in the bag, the game drifted in the final quarter, but the five points lifted the Scarlets up to fifth in the table before the remaining matches of the round.
Scorers
Scarlets – tries: T. Rogers, M. Page, B. Murray, J. Macleod. Cons: I. Lloyd (2). Pens: Lloyd (2)
Zebre – try: B. Cambriani. D-g: G. Prischanitelli.
Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd (repl Ioan Nicholas 65), Tom Rogers (repl Johnny Williams 76), Macs Page, Eddie James, Blair Murray, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies (repl Efan Jones 66), Alec Hepburn (repl Kemsley Mathias), Ryan Elias (repl Marnus van der Merwe 50), Henry Thomas (repl Sam Wainwright 58), Jac Price (repl Alex Craig 50), Sam Lousi, Max Douglas (repl Jac Price 67), Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree (repl Jarrod Taylor 64).
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)
Attendance: 5,892