Scarlets were left to rue missed opportunities against defending champions Glasgow Warriors after being edged out 17-15 in a nail-biting BKT United Rugby Championship encounter.
Dwayne Peel’s side had a number of chances to secure the win with Ioan Lloyd missing a long-range penalty late on, but in another dramatic finale, they came up agonisingly short.
Skipper Josh Macleod and full-back Ioan Nicholas were on the try sheet for the Scarlets, who led until the final 15 minutes. They showed resilience in defence and the set-piece got on top late on.
But it was a relieved Glasgow who secured the victory in a gripping final few minutes.
Looking for a fourth successive win in the competition, it was Scarlets who made the early inroads on the Scotstoun scoreboard.
Lloyd landed a penalty from straight in front, then came the opening try of the match on 10 minutes through the outstanding Macleod.
Lloyd’s touchline kick put his pack deep into Warriors territory, then the Scarlets eight did the rest, rumbling over from five metres out, with Macleod claiming the touchdown.
The second quarter saw Glasgow dominate territory and possession, making the most of indiscipline from the Welsh side.
But time and again the Scarlets pack held them out – the fit-again Vaea Fifita disrupting at the front of the line, then Dan Davis bursting clear from another defensive line-out.
The champions, though, did hit back before the interval after the Scarlets were reduced to 14 men on 32 minutes.
Prop Alec Hepburn was the player to see yellow for a high challenge and the pressure eventually led to prolific-scoring hooker Johnny Matthews driving over from short range. Replacement Duncan Weir, on for the injured Adam Hastings, added the extras.
Leading 8-7 at half-time, Scarlets extended their lead with a well-crafted score six minutes after the restart.
The platform was laid by the forwards, led by Macleod and the impressive van der Merwe, who powered into the Warriors 22. When the ball was recycled, a clever pass from Lloyd found full-back Ioan Nicholas, who finished well. Lloyd converted.
However, the eight-point cushion wasn’t in place for long. Scarlets failed to exit from the restart and back came the Warriors with another close-range try, this time from flanker Henco Venter. Weir converted again.
Glasgow were in the lead for the first time on 65 minutes when Weir landed a penalty following a Scarlets offside.
Scarlets threw everything into the final exchanges, with their scrum on the offensive, but they were unable to snatch victory.
Lloyd did have a long-range effort to win the game in the 78th minute, but his effort drifted wide in a heartbreaking finale.
Scarlets turn their attention to Challenge Cup action next weekend when they take on Aviron Bayonnais in the south of France.
Scorers
Glasgow: Try: J. Matthews, H. Venter. Con: D. Weir (2). Pen: Weir
Scarlets – Try: J Macleod, I. Nicholas. Con: I. Lloyd. Pen: I. Lloyd
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Ellis Mee, Macs Page (repl Eddie James 56), Johnny Williams, Blair Murray, Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies, Alec Hepburn (repl Kemsley Mathias 70), Marnus van der Merwe (repl Ryan Elias 64), Henry Thomas (rel Sam Wainwright 48), Max Douglas, Sam Lousi (repl Alex Craig 64), Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis (repl Kemsley Mathias 37-44), Vaea Fifita (repl Taine Plumtree 64).