A late flourish by the home side saw the Lions claim a 29-18 victory at Ellis Park in the fourth round of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Scarlets were very much in a scrappy contest when they trailed by just 16-13 with 12 minutes remaining, but Lions found another gear in the closing minutes to claim a bonus-point win.
Replacement Joe Roberts scored a late consolation, but it wasn’t enough to snatch a first point of the campaign for Dwayne Peel’s side.
It was the much-changed visitors – including second-row debutants Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves – who were on the scoreboard first thanks to a long-range penalty from fly-half Sam Costelow from just inside the Lions half.
Scarlets then had a golden opportunity when Costelow gathered a chip, broke clear before feeding Blair Murray on the left wing. However, Murray’s inside pass failed to find Taine Plumtree with the line at the No. 8’s mercy.
After dominating territory and possession and having a try ruled out from a line-out drive, the Lions finally got on the scoreboard through full-back Quan Horn after flanker JC Pretorius had burst through from a cross-field kick.
A turnover on his own line by the outstanding Jarrod Taylor saved his side after Lions had claimed a high kick, then Taylor poached another to give the Scarlets a good territorial position.
However, the West Walians were unable to add to their tally and trailed 5-3 at the break.
Fly-half Chris Smith extended the Lions’ lead five minutes after the interval before Costelow pulled three points back for the Scarlets following a late challenge on Ioan Nicholas.
With the Lions starting to gain set-piece ascendancy, replacement Gianni Lombard landed a penalty, then hooker Franco Marais crossed following a line-out rumble.
Scarlets were back in it on 68 minutes when referee Eoghan Cross awarded a penalty try after Marnus van der Merwe was held up over the line from a line-out drive. Television replays showed the maul had been illegally hauled down and second row Darrien Landsberg was yellow carded.
However, it was the 14-man Lions who responded to the setback with a try for replacement hooker Morne Brandon, set up by a break from scrum-half Nico Steyn.
Bradon had his second and his side’s fourth from another successful line-out drive to all-but seal the contest, although following a foray into the home 22, Roberts did well to touch down in the corner after the Lions had failed to deal with a kick through on their own line.
Costelow’s conversion was just wide and it was the Lions who had the final word, with Lombard kicking another penalty on the hooter.
Scarlets now head to Durban to take on the Sharks in round five.
Lions – tries: Q. Horn, F. Marais, B. Morne (2). Pens: Smith, Lombard (2)
Scarlets – tries: penalty try, J. Roberts. Pens: S. Costelow (2).
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Attendance: 1,771