Cardiff won the first United Rugby Championship Welsh derby of the season, three tries from attacking line-out drives earning a 21-15 victory at Parc y Scarlets.
Dan Thomas, player of the match Taine Basham and replacement hooker Evan Lloyd all went over from the drive, enough to see off a Scarlets side that had led twice.
Joe Roberts and Blair Murray scored first-half tries for the hosts, with Joe Hawkins adding a second-half penalty, but Cardiff’s forward power and a clinical bench turned an error-strewn second 40.
There was a losing bonus point to open the Scarlets’ account, though they will feel this was a result that got away, on a night Ryan Elias led the side out on his 200th appearance.
Roberts and Murray put the Scarlets in front
The home side started brightly, Eddie James punching holes in midfield and Murray looking sharp from deep.
That energy brought a superb seventh-minute try, Sam Lousi’s one-handed offload finding Roberts in the corner. Gareth Anscombe, making his URC debut for the region, pushed the conversion wide.
Cardiff had little possession but were clinical with what they had, the driving maul proving the difference as Alex Mann set up back-row partner Thomas to touch down from close range. Callum Sheedy converted to put the visitors ahead for the first time.
A moment of brilliance from Murray restored the lead, the full-back bursting onto an inside pass from James and darting from inside his own half for a standout solo score. Anscombe opened his Scarlets account with the conversion.
But the hosts grew ill-disciplined and sloppy, and Cardiff punished them at the set piece once more before the break, Basham the beneficiary this time for a 14-12 half-time lead.
Lloyd’s drive settles it
Hawkins, on as a replacement, nudged the Scarlets back in front with a penalty after a scrappy start to the second half in which Cardiff squandered field position.
The pressure eventually told, though, and again it was a kick to the corner and forward power that paved the way. The Scarlets defended the initial drive well but could not stop the combination of footwork and power from Lloyd, who burst over.
It proved decisive, Cardiff moving 21-15 clear and holding on for an opening-day win.
James was among the Scarlets’ better performers, and the region showed plenty of attacking intent, playing arguably the better rugby for long spells without finding a way past a dominant Cardiff pack.
Nigel Davies’ side travel to face the Dragons in Newport next Saturday.
Scarlets
Blair Murray; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Macs Page; Gareth Anscombe (Joe Hawkins 48), Dane Blacker (Archie Hughes 72); Sam O’Connor (Josh Morse 43), Ryan Elias (John McKee 56), Henry Thomas (Gabe Hawley 43), Will Evans (Alex Groves 56), Harvey Cuckson (Tristan Davies 43), Sam Lousi, Osian Williams, Josh Macleod (c).
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