Scarlets' home streak continues

 

The flank's hard running and tireless work at the breakdown helped seal a 23-13 victory that means the Welsh side haven't lost at Parc y Scarlets for 15 months.

 

Ben Te'o and John Barclay exchanged first-half tries as Leinster established a two-point lead at half-time but Jordan Williams and Rory Pitman went over after the break as Wayne Pivac's men went a converted try in front.

 

A late penalty then put the game beyond doubt as Scarlets move just three points behind sixth-place Connacht while Leinster stay fifth.

 

Matt O'Connor made nine changes to the line-up that drew 9-9 with Ospreys in Swansea last weekend, including giving Ireland prop Cian Healy a first start since round one.

 

And those changes seemed to galvanise the visitors in the early stages as an end-to-end start saw both teams looking dangerous.

 

Although it was Scarlets flyhalf Steve Shingler who opened the scoring from the tee after nine minutes – taking him over 100 Pro12 points for the season – O'Connor's troops soon responded.

 

Slick work in midfield won a penalty and after opting to kick to the corner, Te'o dotted down for his first league try of the season – Jimmy Gopperth nailing the conversion.

 

At 7-3 up, Leinster's pack began to exert their dominance and a Gopperth penalty from in front of the posts put another three points on the scoreboard before the hosts came roaring back.

 

A well-worked move saw Scotland international Barclay appear to touch down in the right-hand corner and the try was awarded after consultation with the TMO.

 

Shingler pushed the tricky conversion wide and that proved to be the difference at half-time as the Irish side held a narrow 10-8 lead.

 

But it was Pivac's troops who struck first after the break thanks to a moment of magic from Regan King on his 100th Pro12 appearance.

 

After a number of phases the ball was worked wide to King and the veteran Kiwi drew in two defenders before slipping the ball to Williams, who had the simplest of run-ins.

 

Gopperth narrowed the gap to two points with his second penalty but Pitman extended the advantage once again with a little under a quarter of the game remaining.

 

The ball went through the hands and the No.8 used every pound of his 19 stone frame to barrel through a helpless Gopperth and stretch out for the score – Shingler just missing the tricky conversion.

 

Facing a seven-point deficit, Leinster pushed forward in search of a score but some careless handling cost them and replacement Scarlets kicker Rhys Priestland put the game beyond doubt with a 75th minute penalty.

 

And the Irish side's last chance to at least secure a losing bonus point came and went when Zane Kirchner burst through the home defence but fumbled before grounding the ball over the line. 

 

 

Tries: Barclay, Pitman, Williams

Con: Shingler

Pens: Shingler, Priesland

 

Try: Te'o

Con: Gopperth

Pens: Gopperth 2

 

Teams: 

 

Scarlets: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Hadleigh Parkes, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Aled Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Lewis Rawlins, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 George Earle, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Phil John.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jack Payne, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23  Adam Warren

 

Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Rhys Ruddock (captain), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Mike McCarthy, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.

Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Josh van der Flier 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Dave Kearney

 

Referee: George Clancy 

Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris, Chris Williams

TMO: Tim Hayes