Scarlets scored three tries and created plenty of chances, but were beaten 40-21 in their final pre-season warm-up against Saracens at the StoneX Stadium on Friday night.
It was an entertaining contest between two sides intent on playing rugby, the only concern for head coach Dwayne Peel was a few injuries that saw the Scarlets play the final 10 minutes with 14 men and with only six recognised forwards on the field.
For long periods the West Walians went toe to toe with their hosts with the likes of Taine Plumtree, Vaea Fifita and Sam O’Connor prominent and Macs Page and Blair Murray looking lively once again behind the scrum.
The visitors also came close to adding to their try tally only to be held up on a couple of occasions or the final pass not going to hand.
Attention now turns to the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship in Treviso next Saturday as Scarlets look to start their Championship season with a bang.
It was Sarries who enjoyed the early pressure, which led to England hooker Theo Dan taking a quick tap and showing good strength to score from close range. New signing Fergus Burke, a summer arrival from the Crusaders, landed the conversion.
Scarlets lost Henry Thomas and his tight-head replacement Harri O’Connor to injury in the opening 10 minutes, which meant uncontested scrums.
Sam O’Connor, replaced his brother and made an instant impact, crashing up the middle, which led to quick, front-foot ball and the Scarlets scoring their opening try.
Slick hands along the backline released Ioan Lloyd out wide and the full-back raced over without a hand laid on him. Sam Costelow added the conversion.
After Eddie James left the field to be replaced by Gabe McDonald, it was the home side who struck next with Tom Willis driving over from close range for his side’s second of the night. Burke added the extras again
But back again came the Scarlets, who were causing the Sarries defence plenty of problems with ball in hand.
Murray crossed out wide only for the score to be chalked off for a forward pass, then the impressive McDonald was held up over the line after a great offload by Plumtree.
But Scarlets were not to be denied.
A trademark surge from Fifita split the defence, the Tongan international found Plumtree on his outside and although the chance appeared lost, Plumtree went again from a quick tap and it led to the Saracens defence halting the flanker illegally which resulted in referee Adam Leal awarding a penalty try.
There was no lack of invention on show from both sides and it was Sarries who went in ahead at the break courtesy of a third try from Scotland international Andy Onyeama-Christie.
Scarlets had another chance to draw level in stoppage time, but Sarries’ defence managed to hold them out.
The home side flew out of the blocks after the restart with Burke racing over on 42 minutes for a try he also converted.
Tom Rogers looked like he’d hit back after great work by Max Douglas to rip the ball away, but was penalised for a double movement as he touched down.
Scarlets were rewarded for their endeavour on 53 minutes when Sam O’Connor drove over for his first Scarlets try after strong work from fellow sub Carwyn Tuipulotu.
Saracens, though, celebrated their fifth when replacement Samson Ade Jimi ploughed over, but Scarlets continued to create chances. Tuipulotu was held up over the line, then Efan Jones raced away only for the pass to go to ground close to the home line.
It was the home side who had the final word when Onyeama-Christie crossed in the corner for his second.
All focus will now be on the opening round of the United Rugby Championship against Treviso in northern Italy next Saturday.
Scarlets – tries: I. Lloyd, Pen Try, S. O’Connor. Cons: S. Costelow, C. Titcombe
Ioan Lloyd (repl Ellis Mee 50); Tom Rogers, Macs Page, Eddie James (repl Gabe McDonald 18), Blair Murray; Sam Costelow (repl Charlie Titcombe 48), Gareth Davies (capt; repl Efan Jones 50); Kemsley Mathias (repl Jac Davies 60), Marnus van der Merwe (repl Isaac Young 23-26, 50), Henry Thomas (repl Harri O’Connor 2; repl Sam O’Connor 11), Alex Craig (repl Jac Price 50), Max Douglas, Taine Plumtree (repl Ed Scragg 50), Jarrod Taylor (repl Ben Williams HT), Vaea Fifita (repl Carwyn Tuipulotu HT)