It was another tale of missed opportunities for the Scarlets who went down to a 36-19 defeat to defending champions DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

After squandering a couple of golden try-scoring chances in the opening exchanges, a combination of costly errors and slack defence allowed the Stormers to build up a 29-7 advantage at half-time.

The Scarlets did battle back in the second period, scoring a couple of well-crafted tries of their own, but the damage had already been done.

Both sides went into the BKT United Rugby Championship round eight contest missing a number of players, but the Stormers, in particular, showed no signs of unfamiliarity within their ranks.

After Dan Jones missed an early penalty shot at goal, it was Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies - who once played a game on loan for the Scarlets - who sniped for the opening try at the posts.

The lead was doubled when the Stormers made the most of an error from a Scarlets line-out on halfway to send last year’s competition top try-scorer Leolin Zas over and already, in the shadow of Table Mountain, the Scarlets were facing a major uphill task.

Stormers captain Ernst van Rhyn added a third from close range before the West Walians were stung into action, manufacturing a superb score for wing Ryan Conbeer.

Full-back Johnny McNicholl provided the counter-attacking spark, scrum-half Gareth Davies the link, before the Saundersfoot speedster finished well for a try that Jones converted.

It needed a brilliant try-saving tackle from McNicholl to prevent a fourth, but a rampant home side were not to be denied with outstanding No. 8 Hacjivah Dayinami racing away for a brilliant solo effort.

A penalty from fly-half Kade Wolhuter made it 29-7 at half-time and when man of the match Dan du Plessis added a fifth a minute after the restart, Scarlets were staring down the barrel of a heavy loss.

But with the bench making an impact, the visitors began hauling themselves back into the contest.

Slick handling allowed Tom Rogers to cross without a hand laid on him for the visitors’ second try on 49 minutes, then four minutes later, a tap and go from Gareth Davies laid the platform for Conbeer to be freed wide out for his second of the night.

That offered Scarlets hope they could get something out of the contest, but chances went begging again in the final quarter, allowing the Stormers to comfortably see out the game to secure a maximum haul.