Scarlets went down to an opening day 21-15 defeat to Cardiff in a gritty, error-strewn URC Welsh derby at Parc y Scarlets.
After running in a couple of sparkling tries by Joe Roberts and Blair Murray in the opening half, the home team were unable to reach similar heights after the break and were left to rue a half littered with mistakes.
In a forgettable second 40 minutes, both sides struggled to get their game going with a 65th-minute try from replacement hooker Evan Lloyd – one of three Cardiff tries scored from close-range line-out drives – proving enough.
Scarlets did have the consolation of a losing bonus to open their URC account, but they will feel this was a result that got away.
After being led out by Ryan Elias on his 200th appearance, they had started brightly, with Eddie James punching holes in midfield and Murray looking razor sharp from deep.
That early energy and endeavour was rewarded with a superb seventh-minute try, scored by Wales international centre Roberts.
Scrum-half Dane Blacker provided the initial spark, darting around the fringes, he found Sam Lousi haring up on his outside; the Tongan’s one-handed back-door offload was juggled by Roberts before gathering and diving over in the corner for the try. Gareth Anscombe was wide with the conversion.
Cardiff had very little possession and territory early on, but when they did they struck in clinical fashion, driving over from a short-range line-out with Dan Thomas touching down for the score. Callum Sheedy added the extras to push his side 7-5 ahead.
The fans were then brought off their feet by a moment of brilliance from the outstanding Murray, who burst onto an inside pass from James from just inside the Cardiff half, before darting around the final defender for a superb solo score. Anscombe converted and Scarlets were back in front.
Benefiting from Scarlets ill-discipline, it was Cardiff, though, who went in at half-time with a slender lead, courtesy of another try from an offensive line-out.
This time the Scarlets managed to halt the drive, but a blindside snipe eventually saw No. 8 and player of the match Taine Basham dive over. Sheedy’s second successful conversion gave his side a 14-12 advantage at half-time.
The start of the second half saw the visitors enjoy the bulk of territory and possession and it needed some resolute Scarlets defence to keep the blue and blacks at bay.
Replacement Joe Hawkins stepped up to nail a 51st-minute penalty from straight in front to put the Scarlets back in front, before a pivotal moment involving a booming left-footed clearance from Murray.
The full-back appeared to have executed the kick brilliantly for a 50-22, but the officials ruled the ball had touched the line and instead it was Cardiff who had the attacking line-out.
Moments later, Lloyd stepped his way over from the back of the line-out, with Jarrod Evans’s conversion ensuring Cardiff had a six-point lead they weren’t going to relinquish.
Scarlets will now have to dust themselves down before another Welsh derby against the Dragons in Newport next Saturday.
Scarlets – tries: J. Roberts, B. Murray. Cons: G. Anscombe. Pen: J. Hawkins.
Cardiff – tries: D. Thomas, T. Basham, E. Lloyd. Cons: C. Sheedy (2), J. Evans.
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Macs Page; Gareth Anscombe (repl Joe Hawkins 48), Dane Blacker (repl Archie Hughes 72); Sam O’Connor (repl Josh Morse 43), Ryan Elias (repl John McKee 56), Henry Thomas (repl Gabe Hawley 43), Will Evans (repl Alex Groves 56), Harvey Cuckson (repl Tristan Davies 43), Sam Lousi, Osian Williams, Josh Macleod (capt).
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)
Attendance: 7073