Scarlets were denied by a late Cardiff smash and grab in a thrilling BKT United Rugby Championship clash in front of a 9,000-plus crowd at Parc y Scarlets.
The home side held a 24-7 lead going into the final 10 minutes after dominating the contest, playing some scintillating rugby along the way.
But aided by Scarlets ill-discipline that saw two players yellow carded, Cardiff found a way to the winning line, scoring three tries in the final 10 minutes to stun the home crowd.
Interim director of rugby Nigel Davies admitted the entire home camp was devastated in the immediate aftermath of the loss, but when the dust settles, he will have seen plenty of positives in the performance.
The likes of Dane Blacker, Taine Plumtree and Tom Rogers stood out, while Scarlets enjoyed the ascendancy at the set-piece, particularly at line-out time, up until the dramatic finale.
The consolation of a try and losing bonus point would have meant little to Davies and the coaching team as Cardiff celebrated a win that keeps them in the play-off hunt, but the West Walians have to pick themselves up quickly ahead of the arrival of the in-form Vodacom Bulls next Saturday evening.
On a beautiful spring evening, the Scarlets made a disjointed start, losing Wales wing Ellis Mee to an early ankle injury. Cardiff took advantage with the game’s opening try on nine minutes – centre Ben Thomas squeezing in at the corner after a period of pressure on the home line. Callum Sheedy converted off the upright.
Scarlets responded to the early setback, setting up camp in Cardiff territory and were rewarded on 23 minutes when, after a series of line-out attacks, Taine Plumtree touched down. Hawkins’s conversion attempt was charged down.
However, despite having numerous opportunities close to the Cardiff line, the Scarlets were unable to transfer that onto the scoreboard, trailing 7-5 at the break.
That changed five minutes after the restart, with a superbly-worked try for centre Johnny Williams.
The impressive Blacker top a quick tap, the ball was fed to Plumtree wide out and his spectacular inside pass found Williams for the score. Hawkins landed the conversion and the Scarlets were ahead.
From provider, Blacker turned scorer moments later.
Plumtree was the man to snatch a Cardiff line-out, Blacker sniped blind, combined with replacement Joe Roberts and took his pass back with a little juggle to race unopposed to the line.
The try bonus point was in the bag on 54 minutes.
A slick move off a line-out on halfway saw Rogers make the crucial midfield incision, he found Roberts on his outside and the replacement fed Murray up on his inside, with the full-back racing away from the cover to score at the posts. Hawkins nailed the conversion to take the score out to 24-7.
Scarlets had further chances to extend the read with a series of short-range moves halted until they were penalised on an attacking scrum.
From there, the momentum shifted markedly.
Cardiff gave themselves hope when after Plumtree was yellow carded, replacement Javan Sebastian went over from short-range in the 72nd minute. Cam Winnett dived over in the corner four minutes later and with Murray also sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, Cardiff sensed blood in the final minutes, finding an attacking possession that allowed player-of-the-match Sebastian to touch down for his second in the final minute to secure the win that keeps their hopes of a top-eight place firmly alive.
Scarlets – tries: T. Plumtree, J. Williams, D. Blacker, B. Murray. Cons: J. Hawkins (2).
Cardiff – tries: B. Thomas, J. Sebastian (2), C. Winnett. Cons: C. Sheedy (4).
Attendance: 9,025
Yellow cards: Plumtree (70), Murray (76).
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers (repl Archie Hughes), Eddie James, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee (repl Joe Roberts); Joe Hawkins, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias (repl Josh Morse 58), Ryan Elias (repl Marnus van der Merwe 58), Archer Holz (repl Harri O’Connor HT), Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Taine Plumtree, Jarrod Taylor (repl Dan Davis 74), Fletcher Anderson (capt).