Tiernan O’Halloran weighed in with two tries as Connacht put it up to the Scarlets in their Llanelli lair, but the visitors ultimately fell short as Jack Carty’s missed conversion was followed by the Scarlets’ match-winning try from Tadhg Beirne.
Led by Tom McCartney, Connacht turned in a much-improved performance compared to last Saturday’s effort at home to Cardiff Blues, going toe-to-toe with the defending league champions.
Ireland international Tiernan O’Halloran excelled on his return from injury, touching down twice from his wing berth. Kieran Keane’s men also had tries from Jack Carty and Cian Kelleher for a well-deserved bonus point, but they were always chasing the game and could not quite get level.
It was heartbreak again for the westerners as late concessions in both halves took the win away from them, the Scarlets nipping into a 26-22 lead after a seven-try first half and then Kildare man Tadhg Beirne bagging the match winner with three minutes remaining.
The Scarlets handed centre Scott Williams his first start of the season, but they were without the key trio of Gareth Davies, Samson Lee and John Barclay. Connacht also made multiple changes, the most notable saw O’Halloran return on the left wing with Darragh Leader remaining at full-back.
The host led in the seventh minute as Lions centre Jonathan Davies bulldozed his way through before supplying winger Johnny McNicholl to cross for his first try in five games. However, any home fans expecting a comfortable night were disappointed as Connacht hit back.
With Jarrad Butler pressurising in defence, Scott Williams’ loose pass was picked up by the alert Carty and the Athlone man darted through under the posts. Leigh Halfpenny then missed a penalty, but it did not take long for the champions to hit the front again.
The ability to cut through teams with ball-in-hand was the backbone of Scarlets success last season and they demonstrated that once more as Davies set up man-of-the-match Steff Evans to run through and score.
Carty reduced the deficit to 12-10 with a penalty off a scrum, but elusive winger Evans was immense going forward and he broke through two tackles and handed off to Rhys Patchell to dot down with 24 minutes gone.
In a topsy-turvy game, Connacht hit back and took the lead with two tries – one each for the wingers. A flowing move from right to left, with centre Tom Farrell to the fore, ended in O’Halloran strolling over, before Kelleher crossed from close range after the Scarlets committed too many players to the middle – leaving the Dubliner free on the right to finish off an overlap for a 22-19 scoreline.
But, crucially, Connacht coughed up possession from the restart and allowed the Scarlets to regain the lead just before the interval. Evans again burst through down the left and supplied Halfpenny to secure the bonus point for Wayne Pivac’s side.
After all the drama of the first half, the second was far calmed and neither side could add to their tally until Halfpenny booted over a penalty. Both sides had lost their attacking spark, with defences well on top and both full-backs kicking for territory.
However, following good work by industrious number 8 Eoin McKeon, a piece of O’Halloran magic brought Connacht back within two as he juggled a loose pass twice before diving over the line. Carty had the chance to bring the sides level with the conversion from out wide, but he pulled it badly wide with five minutes to go. And the Scarlets secured victory minutes later as replacement Beirne crossed following a scrum.
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