United Rugby Championship
Scarlets (10) 21
Tries: Woolley, James, Anderson Pens: Hawkins (2)
Bulls (14) 23
Tries: Jooste, Pollard Cons: Pollard (2) Pens: Pollard (3)
Man-of-the-match Pollard proved to be the difference maker on the night, scoring 18 points, with a try and a series of successful kicks, as Scarlets would be punished for poor execution.
But there would be many positives to take for the hosts from a back-and-forth match in which the lead changed a remarkable eight times.
It would be the play-off chasing visitors, off the back of a crushing 47-7 victory over the Dragons, that would take an ominous early lead. Wing Cheswill Jooste evading several challenges to score a try within the first three minutes, with Pollard converting.
Scarlets, though, would hit back with exciting debutant Callum Woolley crossing out wide. Playing with confidence, the home side would be firmly on the front foot and were rewarded for territory with Wales centre Eddie James the beneficiary after a driving maul to dot down.
A second missed conversion from fly-half Joe Hawkins meant the scores remained tight, and after experienced centre Harold Vurster quick burst and off-load, Pollard would go over, before adding the extras to his own try to give the Bulls a 14-10 lead at the break
The Scarlets would come back fighting in the early period of the second half, and after Bulls centre Stedman Gans was shown an early second-half yellow card for a cynical off-the-ball tackle.
Replacement prop Francois Kloppers joined his teammate in the bin for a reckless tackle as the West Wallians would hit back following a dominant phase of pressure. Impressive stand-in captain Fletcher Anderson going over for Scarlets to regain the lead by a point.
Despite being down to 13 men, the lead lasted just a few minutes before Pollard kicked a penalty after Hawkins’ third conversion of the night went astray.
Opposite numbers Pollard and Hawkins exchanged two penalties each before a clever kick from replacement Wille Le Roux appeared to have allowed centre David Kriel to cross in the right-hand corner.
The television match official, however, would rule out the score because of a forward pass earlier in the move.
It would be a short reprieve for the Scarlets, who, after phases of brave defending, were penalised at the scrum and then later for collapsing a maul. Pollard punishing the error in emphatic style, stepping up before smashing between the posts to seal the dramatic victory.
Scarlets XV:
15 Blair Murray, 14 Callum Woolley, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker,
1 Kelmsey Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 8 Fletcher Anderson (captain).
Replacements:
16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Ioan Jones.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
