Scarlets tamed a spirited Black Lion to secure a bonus-point 36-18 victory and boost their bid to make the knockout stages of this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup.
The home side scored five tries, with skipper Josh Macleod touching down twice in a player-of-the-match display. Gareth Davies, Johnny Williams and replacement Archie Hughes were also on the scoresheet.
The win and maximum haul lifts the Scarlets to the same number of points (six) in the pool table as Edinburgh and RC Vannes with games against Gloucester (away) and Vannes (home) to come in the new year.
It also gave the Scarlets some redemption 12 months on from losing to Black Lion at home in last season’s competition.
The Scarlets were off to a flyer with a try after just two minutes.
Slick build-up play saw the impressive Ellis Mee slalom his way through a number of white shirts before feeding Gareth Davies on his inside for the scrum-half to enjoy a free run to the line. Costelow landed the conversion from straight in front.
The Georgians, who had opened their campaign with a home win over French side Vannes, clawed their back into the contest thanks to a brace of penalties from fly-half Luke Matkava, who then saw yellow for a high hit on an onrushing Johnny Williams.
From the resultant line-out, the home pack surged forward and it was Macleod who emerged with the ball for his side’s second. Costelow’s conversion attempt drifted wide.
Looking confident with ball in hand, Scarlets had their third try in the bag on 28 minutes. The attacking opportunity was set up by a Macleod burst from deep and from another attacking line-out, patient play eventually saw Williams show good strength to drive over at the posts. Costelow added the extras to make it 19-6.
However, Black Lion were refusing to go away and after a series of penalties against the Scarlets inside their own 22, the Georgian side were over the whitewash through a quick tap from captain and No. 8 Luika Ivanishvili.
In the closing minutes of the half Vaea Fifita came close to scoring one of the tries of the season, brushing off defenders on a rampaging charge down the touchline, but the referee ruled there was an obstruction on the way and the score was chalked off, leaving the score 19-11 at the break.
The officials were involved again soon after the restart and after lengthy deliberation, showed Black Lion second row Lado Chachanidze red for dangerous play after he had lifted Macleod at a ruck, then dropped the Scarlets skipper on his head.
Moments later, the home side had the bonus point in the bag with Macleod claiming his second from a carbon copy replica of the first line-out drive. Costelow’s conversion made it 26-11, but still the visitors kept battling.
Max Douglas was next to be sent to the touchline, shown yellow for a high challenge and despite some dogged Scarlets defence on their own line, they were unable to prevent back-rower Sandro Mamamtavrishvili from diving over at the side of a ruck.
With twenty minutes to go, Scarlets upped the intensity.
Ioan Nicholas was dragged into touch in the corner after an inch-perfect cross-field kick from Costelow, while Mee was also denied by desperate defence on the opposite flank.
A Costelow penalty eased any nerves in the 6,013 crowd at Parc y Scarlets, then the final flourish was provided by Hughes, who darted around a line-out to dive over unopposed in the closing minutes.
With Europe going into hibernation until January, Scarlets resume URC action next weekend with the West Wales derby against the Ospreys in Swansea.
Scarlets – tries: G. Davies, J. Macleod (2), J. Williams, A. Hughes. Cons: S. Costelow (4). Pen: Costelow.
Black Lion – tries: Luika Ivanishvili, Sandro Mamamtavrishvili. Con: L. Tsirekidze. Pens: L. Matkava (2)
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers (repl Ioan Lloyd 71), Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams (repl Eddie James 45), Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies (repl Archie Hughes); Kemsley Mathias (repl Alec Hepburn 45), Marnus van der Merwe (repl Shaun Evans 64), Henry Thomas (repl Archer Holz 55), Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree (repl Jarrod Taylor 68), Josh Macleod (capt; repl Jac Price 73), Vaea Fifita.