Scarlets romped to a convincing bonus-point win over Italian side Zebre Parma, running in six tries in a dominant 36-17 victory at Parc y Scarlets.
The match was over before half time as the hosts were clinical in their execution in a dominant display.
The Italians battled back in the final quarter with some late consolation scores, but the contest had been done and dusted long before, lifting the Scarlets one place to 14th in the URC ladder.
Prop Archer Holz was at the heart of a powerful forward effort, playing a key role in dismantling the Zebre scrum. The Australian tight-head also carried strongly to earn him the player-of-the-match award.
Flanker Jarrod Taylor raced over for a brace of tries, while Macs Page also stood out, denied a wonder score late on by the intervention of the TMO.
There were also tries from Sam Lousi, Ellis Mee and replacement Dan Davis as Scarlets made a welcome return to winning ways, back in front of their own fans for the first time in two long months.
The West Walians shot out of the blocks and were over with barely a minute on the clock, South African flanker Taylor taking a looping pass from Archie Hughes to show his pace and power to cross wide out.
With the home side dominating possession and territory against an ill-disciplined Italian side, the Parc y Scarlets faithful were celebrating their second soon after with second row Lousi crossing following a short-range line-out drive. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones converted.
Page scored the Scarlets try of the 2024-25 season against Zebre and added another against the same opponents on 24 minutes, cutting a sharp line to the posts after a strong surge from Holz had put his side on the front foot. Leggatt-Jones added the extras from straight in front to make it 19-0.
With the Scarlets scrum on top, it was no surprise when the fourth try arrived with prop Kemsley Mathias and Leggatt-Jones combining to free Ellis Mee for an easy run-in.
In full control 24-0 up at the start of the second half, Scarlets had to withstand some rare defensive pressure, but managed to twice hold the visitors up over the line.
They were soon back down the other side of the field with replacement Dan Davis – on for skipper Josh Macleod – touching down at the tail of a driving maul.
Wing Simone Gesi pulled a try back for the visitors on 63 minutes, then straight from the kick-off, Zebre failed to gather, Page didn’t and the livewire centre fed Taylor on his inside for his second. Leggatt-Jones converted.
Page produced a moment of individual brilliance, scything through, chipping over the defence before regaining the ball and diving over at the posts for one of the solo scores of the season. But just as Leggatt-Jones was about to kick the conversion, the TMO intervened, having spotted a knock-on in the build-up.
Zebre did manage two late scores from flanker Bautista Stavile and fellow replacement Dabide Odiase, but they were mere consolation.
Scarlets – tries: J. Taylor (2), S. Lousi, M. Page, E. Mee, D. Davis Cons: C. Leggatt-Jones (3)
Zebre – tries: S. Gesi, B. Stavile, D. Odiase. Con: G. Da Re.
Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee (repl Ioan Jones 59); Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (repl Joe Hawkins 71), Archie Hughes (repl Dane Blacker 54); Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias (repl Marnus van der Merwe 49; repl Henry Thomas 80), Archer Holz (repl Gabe Hawley 49), Sam Lousi (repl Jac Price 58), Max Douglas, Jarrod Taylor, Josh Macleod (capt; repl Dan Davis 52), Fletcher Anderson.
Attendance: 5,029