Scarlets produced a spirited effort in a hot and humid Kings Park cauldron, but it was the Cell C Sharks who emerged with a bonus-point win in a pulsating URC South v North clash.

The Welsh side defied all the pre-match predictions to build a deserved 13-6 lead early in the second half, but the Sharks power and the brilliance of full-back Aphele Fassi proved the difference.

In testing conditions and against a side containing nine Springbok internationals, Scarlets gave everything from first to last.

Dwayne Peel’s men will rue a couple of missed opportunities early on, but they still went toe to toe with the leading side in South African rugby.

Scarlets almost claimed the game’s opening try after just seven minutes. 

Sam Costelow chased down his own kick and looked to have claimed the touchdown, but television replays showed Fassi just managed to get his fingertips on the ball.

Nevertheless, the visitors continued to press and were rewarded with a Costelow penalty after a breakdown infringement a minute later.

Steff Evans then thought he had a try, only for replays to show that the winger had stepped onto the touchline in the act of diving into the corner.

Costelow doubled the Scarlets advantage with a second penalty success before opposite number Curwin Bosch responded with three points for the hosts.

In a match that was played at a high-octane tempo, a defence-splitting break from Scott Williams almost led to a Dane Blacker score, but Springbok captain Siya Kolisi got back to make the desperate try-saving tackle.

As Sharks grew stronger towards the end of the half, Bosch missed two shots at goal before eventually levelling matters at 6-6 just before the interval.

Scarlets needed a fast start to the second period and got just that when replacement Aaron Shingler, on at the break for lock Jac Price, peeled away from a short-range line-out to cross for his side’s first try. Costelow converted.

However, the Sharks began to crank up their game after that.

Vodacom man of the match Fassi latched onto a superbly-disguised grubber through from scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse for a converted score, then it was Bosch who benefitted from a Scott Williiams charged down kick to put his side in front for the first time on 62 minutes.

A  Bosch penalty and then a penalty try from a line-out rumble appeared to put the Sharks out of sight, but Scarlets refused to throw in the towel as Steff Evans latched onto a lovely off-load from Sam Lousi to race clear for Scarlets’ second try, converted by Dan Jones.

It was the Sharks, through their juggernaut pack, who finished the stronger and after Kemsley Mathias was yellow carded they eventually claimed the bonus-point score in the sixth minute of stoppage time through centre Marius Louw.