A gritty, gutsy, determined defensive effort combined with two moments of magic from Gareth Davies ensured the Scarlets maintained their impressive winning run at the Arms Park,
The West Walians, who were shown three yellow cards, had to dig deep throughout a contest where they had very little ball, but two second-half tries from 35-year-old scrum-half Davies, including a trademark interception, proved crucial to earn a 21-17 victory and remain their remarkable unbeaten record in the capital which stretches back to 2019.
As well as Davies, another thirty-something, Jake Ball, put in a momentous shift in defence, No 8 Fletcher Anderson carried powerfully again, Blair Murray looked lively on his return to Scarlets colours, while Eddie James stood out in midfield.
It may not have been pretty, but head coach Dwayne Peel was understandably delighted with his side’s effort in a game where they only had 26 percent possession.
Cardiff had an early try by Jim Botham chalked off for a knock-on and were then held up over the line by the resolute Scarlets rearguard.
It was a frantic opening quarter, dominated by the hosts, but when Scarlets managed to set up an attack in home territory – courtesy of an Anderson turnover – it was the visitors who struck first.
Powerful carries by the forwards set up play close to the Cardiff line, allowing fly-half Joe Hawkins to hit James on a free run to the posts. Hawkins added the extras.
However, Scarlets were then reduced to 13 men when skipper Josh Macleod was shown yellow – a result of a culmination of penalties – with Davies following him for a deliberate knock-on.
With the defence stretched, there was an inevitability about a home score with left wing Mason Grady diving over in the corner. Callum Sheedy landed the touchline conversion to level the scores.
As Cardiff laid siege to the Scarlets line, it needed more defensive grit to prevent a further try before the break, but the home side did go in at half-time ahead through a Sheedy penalty with the last kick of the half.
Cardiff were again held up over the line at the start of the second half and on 51 minutes Scarlets made the home side pay, pouncing for their second try of the night.
Slick hands freed Tom Rogers out wide, Max Douglas took the ball on and it was that man Davies who found space on the blindside to snipe his way over for yet another score at the Arms Park.
However, the Scarlets’ lead was short-lived with Josh Adams winning the race to a kick through on 54 minutes, a try converted again by Sheedy.
The see-sawing nature of the contest continued when Davies produced a Davies special, intercepting from 60 metres out and having the gas to make the posts. Hawkins’s conversion made it 21-17.
However, this was a game with no time to catch your breath.
Replacement Taulupe Faletau burst through, leading to another yellow – this time for Johnny Williams – but as the clock ticked down still the Scarlets defences held firm.
It was fitting that it was another lung-bursting shift without the ball in the final minutes that decided the contest and secured a second successive URC win for Peel’s side.
Cardiff – Tries: M. Grady, J. Adams. Cons: C. Sheedy. Pen: Sheedy
Scarlets – Tries: E. James, G. Davies (2). J Hawkins (3).
Scarlets: Blair Murray (repl Archie Hughes 78); Tom Rogers (repl Joe Roberts 75), Eddie James, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Joe Hawkins, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias (repl Alec Hepburn 53), Ryan Elias (repl Marnus van der Merwe 63), Henry Thomas, Sam Lousi, Jake Ball, Max Douglas, Josh Macleod (capt; repl Jarrod Taylor 60), Fletcher Anderson.
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
Attendance: 11,728
Yellow cards: Macleod (26), Davies (28), Williams (60)