Scarlets went down to a heartbreaking one-point loss to Bristol Bears in a gripping return to Champions Cup rugby at Parc y Scarlets.
In a match that could have gone either way, it was the Bears who emerged with the spoils, 17-16, courtesy of a second-half try from Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit.
Scarlets, playing in the tournament for the first time in three years, battled and scrapped for everything, fighting their way back from an early 12-0 deficit thanks to a try from scrum-half Gareth Davies and the boot of half-back partner Sam Costelow.
Two penalties from Costelow nudged the home side ahead 16-10, but Rees-Zammit’s score on 54 minutes proved enough for the West Countrymen.
Scarlets had two first-half tries chalked off (by the impressive Tom Rogers and Jac Davies) following intervention by the television match official, while the TMO also ruled out a second-half effort from the Bears.
As well as Rogers, fellow Wales international Ellis Mee was lively throughout, while Fletcher Anderson provided further evidence of his calibre with a strong performance from No. 8.
It was Bristol, though, who shot out of the blocks, creating a quickfire try for Fijian No. 8 Viliame Mata, converted by fly-half Sam Worsley.
Scarlets fans were celebrating a Rogers ‘score’ after he had latched onto an inch-perfect Costelow cross-kick only for the officials to intervene because of a knock-on in the build-up.
Mata went over for his second following a slick offload from fellow Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou before Scarlets started to get the scoreboard rolling.
There was a lengthy stoppage to treat an injury to Scarlets prop Archer Holz, who was stretchered off. Thankfully, Archer was up and about following the final whistle.
Costelow landed a penalty from straight in front before scrum-half Gareth Davies twisted over from close range. The conversion made it 12-10.
Just before half-time, full-back Jac Davies was freed in the corner after a rampaging run from Anderson only for the officials to rule that the pass to the Kiwi was forward.
The second half was a far cagier affair.
Scarlets, with skipper Josh Macleod to the fore, were competing strongly at the breakdown and two more penalties from the boot of Costelow pushed the Welsh side 16-10 in front.
Ravouvou was the next to have a try disallowed for a forward pass and as Bristol continued to threaten, on 54 minutes Rees-Zammit had the simple task of touching down after more Bears pressure.
Despite their valiant efforts, the Scarlets were unable to grasp back any momentum in the final quarter, with a couple of late attacking line-outs going awry, allowing Bristol to finish the match in home territory to secure the points.
Scarlets will look to dust themselves down before heading across the Channel to take on defending champions Bordeaux-Begles in their second Pool 4 fixture on Saturday.
Scarlets – Try: G. Davies. Con. S. Costelow. Pens: Costelow (2)
Bristol – Tries: V. Mata (2), L. Rees-Zammit. Con: S. Worsley.
Scarlets: 15 Jac Davies; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams (repl Joe Roberts 46), 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow (repl Joe Hawkins 62); 9 Gareth Davies (repl Dane Blacker 73); 1 Kemsley Mathias (repl Sam O’Connor 75), 2 Ryan Elias (repl Marnus van der Merwe 52), 3 Archer Holz (repl Henry Thomas 23), 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball (repl Dan Davis 75 ), 6 Max Douglas, 7 Josh Macleod, 8 Fletcher Anderson.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
Attendance: 7,366