Scarlets are up and running in the United Rugby Championship after claiming a bonus-point 31-25 victory over Cardiff in a see-sawing contest at Parc y Scarlets.

With the game finely poised at 14-14 at the break, Dwayne Peel’s side went up a couple of gears in the second period, inspired by player of the match and captain Gareth Davies, who scored one and created another for No. 8 Vaea Fifita.

Scarlets appeared to have the game in the bag going into the final minutes, but had to withstand a nervous finale as Cardiff looked to snatch an unlikely victory.

After a testing couple of weeks in South Africa, the win was a welcome tonic for head coach Peel, his coaching team and squad, particularly with so many experienced players absent through Wales duty or injury.

As well as Davies, centre Eddie James caught the eye, as did wing Steff Evans on his return from injury. Flanker Teddy Leatherbarrow, making his URC debut, also put in a big shift in a match where there was little to choose between the east v west Welsh rivals.

A fluctuating opening half ended level with two converted tries apiece.

Cardiff opened the scoring on six minutes with scrum-half Elis Bevan finishing off a break after a ricocheted pass fell kindly for the visitors. Fly-half Tinus de Beer converted.

Scarlets responded strongly and after a period of pressure on the Cardiff line, second row Alex Craig found the whitewash from close range to score his first try for his new side. Ioan Lloyd converted.

Scarlets, though, failed to deal with the restart and a series of penalties against the home scrum led to prop Kemsley Mathias being yellow carded and Rhys Carre scoring Cardiff’s second of the night.

It needed a strong defensive effort to deny Cardiff a third shortly after, but the Scarlets held out and a couple of penalties from the visitors led to a late attacking opportunity for the home side.

With three minutes left before the break, Cardiff defensive line was stretched by a trademark stepping run from Steff Evans, but just as it seemed that the visitors were holding out, Johnny McNicholl spotted a gap, raced through and dived over for his 56th try in Scarlets colours. Lloyd nailed the extras.

Cardiff were back in front three minutes into the second half when de Beer landed a penalty, but the Scarlets were looking more and more threatening with ball in hand and on 53 minutes some slick passing found Steff Evans on the wing, he kicked through and skipper Gareth Davies did brilliantly to slide onto the ball and claim the try.

Lloyd embellished the score with the conversion and the home side were ahead for the first time in the game.

Cardiff reduced the deficit to 21-20 through a de Beer penalty, but the Scarlets crowd were off their feet four minutes later to celebrate a stunning bonus-point try.

Player of the match Davies was the architect, sniping blindside before offloading to Fifita, who still had plenty to do. But the Tongan international sped away, shrugging off the attempted tackle of de Beer before crossing in the corner for another dazzling try for his highlights reel.

Lloyd again nailed the conversion and a penalty soon after and with 13 minutes remaining the game looked done and dusted.

However, Cardiff had other ideas, crafting a try out of nowhere for wing Theo Cabango, who finished superbly. De Beer was wide with the conversion, but there was still more drama to follow with Leatherbarrow yellow carded for a late challenge.

Cardiff’s final assault, though, came to nothing, leaving the Scarlets fans able to celebrate a win which gets their Championship campaign up and running with five welcome points.

Scarlets - tries: A. Craig, J. McNicholl, G. Davies, V Fifita. Cons: I. Lloyd (4). Pen: Lloyd

Cardiff - tries: E. Bevan, R. Carre, T. Cabano. Cons: T. de Beer (2). Pens: de Beer (2).