A young Scarlets side had to work hard to overcome a gritty Carmarthen Quins in their opening match of the pre-season campaign.
Scarlets, fielding a side stacked with youthful talent, crossed for four tries to run out 26-14 victors on a sun-kissed day at Carmarthen Park.
Flanker Ben Williams was the standout performer, scrum-half Rhodri Lewis impressed on his debut, while Macs Page underlined why so many people are excited about his progress through the ranks.
Quins, celebrating their 150th anniversary, will take plenty from the contest, especially the way they came back into the game in the second period with two driving maul tries.
Scarlets were led out by 19-year-old hooker Harry Thomas, one of the youngest players to captain the club, while Quins were captained by former Scarlet back-rower and current U18s coach Tom Phillips.
It was the visitors who were first on the scoreboard courtesy of the outstanding Williams. Macs Page made the initial incision, Lewis and wing Iori Badham provided support and the flanker was on hand to finish at the posts. Fly-half Elis Price, a Carmarthen Quins product, converted.
A break by the rampaging Williams and a thumping tackle from the same man followed, before Scarlets had to withstand a strong period of pressure by the Quins, who had scrum-half Rhodri Davies and hooker Lewis Morgan prominent.
But after winning a penalty to clear their lines, Scarlets struck for their second try of the afternoon.
Slick hands freed Ellis Mee in the wide channels before the full-back put Iori Badham away out wide. The winger put in a perfectly-weighted grubber through and it was scrum-half Lewis who followed up, gathered and slid over for the score. Price converted again.
Page almost raced clear for the Scarlets’ third but was hauled down by an excellent cover tackle by former Academy centre Iestyn Gwilliam and Scarlets went in at half-time 14-0 ahead.
After a scrappy opening to the second half, replacement prop Tom Phillips crossed from close range, converted by Steff Jac Jones – both members of the Scarlets’ title-winning U18s squad last season.
Quins responded with a driving line-out score from Sion Jones converted by Osian Jones, only for the Scarlets to hit straight back through replacement Jarrod Taylor, who finished off from close range after a midfield break from Gabe McDonald.
It was the home side who had the final word with Jones touching down for his second from another line-out surge.
Quins – tries: S. Jones (2). Cons: O. Jones (2)
Scarlets – tries: B. Williams, R. Lewis, T. Phillips, J. Taylor. Cons: E. Price (2), S. Jones.