Scarlets slipped to a pre-season defeat at the Arms Park, going down 21-12 in an error-strewn encounter.

With the ball failing to stick on a number of occasions, Dwayne Peel’s side were unable to get any fluency to their game, with tries at the end of each half from hooker Lewis Morgan and replacement scrum-half Kieran Hardy all they had to show for their efforts.

The positives for head coach Dwayne Peel was that 28 players had a run out, particularly some of his younger squad members.

The Scarlets took the field led by 25-year-old Ioan Nicholas for the first time - the fact that only prop Steff Thomas (26) was older than the centre in the starting XV highlighted the youthful nature of the run-on side given their opportunity in the capital.

It was Cardiff who were first on the board after just five minutes, wing Theo Cabango finishing at the posts following a break from new signing, fly-half Tinus de Beer, who added the conversion.

The speedster was celebrating a second on 26 minutes after gathering a chip ahead and dancing his way to the line. De Beer again added the extras.

Imperious in the air, full-back Tom Rogers was also a threat on the counter for the West Walians, but the visitors spent the majority of the opening half hour in their own territory.

A brilliant 50:22 from fly-half Charlie Titcombe, making his Scarlets debut, sent the Scarlets from one 22 to the other only for the ensuing driving maul to be halted five metres short of the line.

With No. 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu carrying strongly on his return from injury, the visitors came more into the game as the half wore on and claimed their first try on 37 minutes when hooker Morgan touched down at the back of a driving maul for his first Scarlets try. Titcombe pushed the conversion wide and the score was 14-5 at the break.

As expected, both sides made numerous changes for the second period with Scarlets bringing on the experience of Wyn Jones, Hardy and Scott Williams - playing his first match since New Year's Day - as well as 18-year-old centre Macs Page, who produced an eye-catching break late on.

Unfortunately, some pre-season rustiness with ball in hand meant Scarlets struggled to get any momentum into their play.

Cardiff’s third try of the game came on 54 minutes, a driving maul, scored by Wales international Ellis Jenkins and converted by replacement fly-half Arwel Robson.

Scarlets saved their best for late on. 

Throwing the ball wide inside their own 22 with four minutes left on the clock, wing Tomi Lewis burst through, fed Dan Davis and the replacement flanker found Hardy racing up on his inside to take the pass and outstrip the cover from halfway, Titcombe landed the conversion, but there was little time to make any further inroads on the Cardiff lead.

The Scarlets return to Llanelli next Friday when they take on the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets (19:00).

Cardiff - tries: T. Cabango (2), E. Jenkins. Cons: T. de Beer (2), A. Robson.

Scarlets - tries: L. Morgan, K. Hardy. Con: C. Titcombe.