Scarlets defeated the Lions 32-19 in Johannesburg on Saturday, ending the Gauteng outfit’s slim hopes of securing a URC playoff spot.
Scarlets looked in control for long periods of their URC clash against the Lions at Emirates Ellis Park but needed a late try to secure the win after the Johannesburg side mounted a fightback in the second half.
The Lions looked the stronger of the two sides in the opening exchanges and were camped in the Scarlets’ half for the first 10 minutes of the game.
However, the fact that the Gauteng side was unable to breach the defence was a sign of things to come as Scarletts clung on before hitting back with the first try of the game through Blair Murray in the 15th minute.
Murray bagged his second try of the game, both of which were converted by Sam Costelow, 13 minutes later as the men from Wales began to turn the screws.
The Lions hit back with a try of their own against the run of play in the 33rd minute, and Costelow kicked another penalty to make the score 7-17 to the visitors at half-time.
The feeling that the Lions were a bit fortunate not to be further behind proved to be accurate as Scarletts scored their third try just five minutes into the second period, with eighth man Tain Plumtree busting over the line.
Perhaps feeling a bit too comfortable and taking their foot off the gas, the visitors allowed the Lions back into the game over the next 20 minutes with winger Richard Kriel bagging a brace of tries in the 51st and 62nd minutes.
Lubabalo Dobela converted the first but missed the second kick to bring the Lions within three points at 18-22.
That lit a bit of a fire underneath Scarletts, though, and, coupled with a few smart substitutions, they grabbed hold of the initiative once again.
A late try for Johnny Williams in the 72nd minute, as well as the conversion and a third penalty from Costelow, took the final score to a much more comfortable 19-32 for the victorious visitors and a fair reflection of a match they looked the stronger side in for longer periods.
