Scarlets snatch dramatic win

 

Scott Williams crossed for the visitors in the first half but George Biagi's try meant the sides went into the break level.

 

Further tries from Williams, James Davies and Quintin Geldenhuys ensured the game stayed in the balance until the 77th minute when Gonzalo Garcia nailed a penalty to give Zebre a 26-25 lead.

 

Rhys Priestland appeared to have blown the Scarlets' last chance when he missed a 79th-minute penalty but made amends as the clock turned red, slotting a three-pointer from the touchline to ensure the Welshmen avoided a first-ever defeat to their Italian opponents.

 

Zebre welcomed back a number of Italian internationals who weren't available for the 22-53 loss to Ospreys last time out, including Dario Chistolini and skipper Mauro Bergamasco.

 

And those changes helped the Italian side strike first as Luciano Orquera slotted a fifth-minute penalty although Steve Shingler responded in kind shortly afterwards.

 

Levelling the score seemed to spur the Scarlets on and they soon found themselves ahead as Wales international Williams demonstrated his considerable pace to streak clear of the Zebre defence and dot down for just his second try of the season.

 

Shingler nailed the conversion but his counterpart Orquera was less accurate, firing wide after his team won a penalty at the scrum.

 

The Argentina-born flyhalf did make amends with a successful three-pointer on 20 minutes however to narrow the deficit to 10-6, as the ill-disciplined visitors were once again penalised at scrum-time.

 

A second Shingler penalty followed but Zebre were throwing the ball around with an abandon belying their current position at the bottom of the table.

 

And they got the try that their attacking play deserved just before half-time as lock Biagi profited from Shingler's mistake underneath the high ball to canter over.

 

Orquera added the extras to ensure the sides headed into the break level at 13-13.

 

That parity didn't last long after the interval however as Williams intercepted an errant pass and touched down under the posts to wrest control of the game back for the visitors – replacement Priestland duly adding the conversion.

 

For all their faults, Zebre can't be accused of a lack of resilience and Orquera kept them in touch with a third penalty as they continued to press forward.

 

Jake Ball saw yellow as the Scarlets defence was bending but refused to break despite the hosts being camped on their try-line.

 

However, eventually the home side's pressure was rewarded as Geldenhuys ploughed his way over the line and Garcia converted.

 

At 23-20 down, and with hopes of a top-six finish slipping through their fingers, Scarlets became increasingly desperate as they searched for a way back into the game.

 

With just six minutes remaining, Davies touched down for what looked set to be a vital try although Priestland failed to add the conversion.

 

And that miss appeared to prove costly as, on 77 minutes, Zebre were awarded a penalty and Garcia held his nerve from the tee to give them a 26-25 lead.

 

Priestland then saw a 79th-minute penalty fail to bisect the uprights but with 82 minutes on the clock, the Wales international made amends from tight to the touchline to hand Scarlets an unlikely win. 

 

 

Tries: Biagi, Geldenhuys

Cons: Orquera, Garcia

Pens: Orquera 3, Garcia

 

Tries: S Williams 2, J Davies

Cons: Shingler, Priestland

Pens: Shingler 2, Priestland

 

 

Zebre: 15 Hendrik Daniller, 14 Dion Berryman, 13 Matteo Pratichetti, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Mauro Bergamasco (captain), 6 Filippo Cristiano, 5 George Biagi, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Andrea De Marchi.

Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 Samuela Vunisa, 20 Valerio Bernabò, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Alberto Chillon, 23 Mirco Bergamasco.

 

Scarlets: 15 Liam 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 Rob McCusker, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Rob Evans.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Phil John, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jack Payne, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Steffan Evans.

 

Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Elia Rizzo (Italy), Filippo Bertelli (Italy)

TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)