Niyi Adeolokun’s first GUINNESS PRO12 try was scant consolation for a Connacht side who were well beaten by the dominant Scarlets in Llanelli this afternoon.
Despite making a strong start, Connacht leaked a succession of tries in the first half to trail 25-6 at the break with New Zealander Regan King pulling the strings for the Scarlets.
The Parc y Scarlets faithful showed their appreciation as centre King set up tries for Michael Tagicakibau and Harry Robinson, and full-back Jordan Williams became the third member of the back-three to cross the whitewash in the 33rd minute.
Jack Carty landed his third successful penalty, seven minutes after the restart, before Wayne Pivac’s men wrapped up the bonus point with a 50th minute try from openside James Davies, converted by man-of-the-match Steve Shingler.
The result was beyond Connacht at that point and although Niyi Adeolokun raised spirits with a 72nd minute touchdown, there was little for the sixth-placed province to take from the game as the Scarlets joined them on 33 points in the table.
In near perfect conditions, this round 14 fixture started at a fast pace with both sides eager to play with width. Kieran Marmion and Danie Poolman combined to bring play up into the hosts’ 22 and a penalty was awarded which out-half Carty struck between the posts in the fourth minute.
Scarlets number 8 John Barclay was sin binned four minutes later for collapsing a maul from a five-metre lineout. Connacht pressed again and Matt Healy showed his attacking class with a lightning break from halfway to cross the whitewash. However, referee Marius Mitrea disallowed the try for a needless block in midfield.
Shingler kicked two penalties to put his side in front by the time Barclay returned to the pitch. And he was up to the tee once again when winger Tagicakibau, fed by King’s offload out of a tackle, ran in the game’s first try in the left corner. The conversion was missed at 11-3.
The Welsh region added to their lead in the 27th minute when they took advantage of an overthrown Connacht lineout in their 22. After some patient build-up play and recycling, lovely hands once more from King released Robinson to score and Shingler added the extras.
Connacht had their opportunities and with just five minutes to go before the interval they had a solid platform with a five-metre scrum. Once more though, a Connacht error allowed the Scarlets conjure up a try as Poolman’s pass was intercepted by Williams near his own try-line and the full-back raced the length of the field to touch down.
Shingler’s conversion was cancelled out by a long range Carty penalty, cutting the gap to 19 points for half-time, and Pat Lam’s charges made further inroads on the restart with winger Healy showing his pace once more to earn territory for his side.
From an attacking scrum, the visitors forced a penalty which Carty fired over for a 25-9 scoreline. Still, it was not long until the Scarlets bagged their bonus point with flanker Davies twisting his way over from close range on the back of a lineout drive. Shingler’s conversion made it 32-9 with half an hour remaining.
Connacht had captain John Muldoon sin-binned for stamping, approaching the hour mark, but they managed to survive with no further concussion. Indeed, the province started to dominate possession and break into Scarlets territory again.
Jack Heenan, playing PRO12 rugby for the first time since September’s opening round, was held up just short before the ball was dug out and flung across to the right wing where Adeolokun had a simple finish for his maiden league try.
Replacement out-half Shane O’Leary, who was making his first appearance at this level, saw his difficult conversion attempt drift wide from close to the right touchline.
After back-to-back losses to Edinburgh and the Scarlets, Lam will want a big response from his players when they return to Wales to face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade next Sunday.
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