A double from Gareth Davies and a second-half effort from Johnny Williams would just about get Peel’s side over the line on the day despite finishing a majority of the latter stages with 13 men.
Cardiff winger Harri Millard’s brace and a penalty try made the scoreline closer than Peel would have liked to have seen come the end of the match.
The Scarlets, however, would show their new-found resilience to see out the final few tense minutes much to the delight of the former Wales scum-half.
“I’m immensely pleased but my heart was going like the clappers,” said Peel.
“I’m proud of the effort and for us, that is what building teams are made of.
“I think that feeling that we were able to see the game out was important.
“It seems to be the way [for the Scarlets]. We have had three games now where it has gone down to the wire.
“Benetton and Connacht we came out on the wrong side of it and now we have managed to stick in there today.
“From a character perspective, I’m really pleased. We were down to 13 men like we were two weeks ago as well so that is an area we need to look at.
“Defending the play with 13 men is pretty savage and I feel we did that really well.”
One player Peel saved special praise for was winger Blair Murray. The former New Zealand schoolboy’s try-saving tackle on replacement Cardiff winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb late on when one-on-one ultimately proved to be a match-winner with the game’s outcome on a knife-edge.
“There were big moments [in the match],” continued Peel. “Blair Murray’s cover tackle in the corner keeps you in the fight. It wins the game for us and is a fantastic tackle.
“We’ve seen glimpses of him and signed him as an attacking threat.
“It’s always difficult playing in the back three coming from the Southern Hemisphere to the Nothern, it’s a different kicking game and conditions.
“He’s learning all the time about defending and that has probably been his biggest growth [since he signed].
“In the first half, you saw him on an outside break which Taine [Plumtree] didn’t quite finish, and you see that side of him.
“I think we have to get him on the ball more if I’m being honest, but he has a great skillset.
“We’ve made a stand that we want to compete hard for each other this year and I think we’ve shown that. It’s nice to get the win today.”
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
