Edinburgh fightback earns two losing bonus-points

Manus van der Merwe’s try and Ioan Lloyd’s boot had given the hosts a healthy 13-0 lead, before Edinburgh hit back through Sam Skinner and Patrick Harrison to make it a one point game at the break.

Josh Macloed and Ioan Nicholas crossed for Scarlets, before late tries from Ben Healy and Harri Morris set up a grandstand finish.

Scarlets held on to their slender lead before Lloyd kicked an 80th minute penalty to secure victory.

Both sides were forced into multiple changes with Scarlets losing seven players and Edinburgh eight to international duty.

Scarlets were boosted by the return of Wales wing Steff Evans after a nine month injury lay-off, while Johnny Williams gave a player of the match performance in thr hosts’ midfield.

Edinburgh welcomed back Ali Price to set up an intriguing British and Irish Lions scrum-half battle with his opposite number Gareth Davies.

Lloyd kicked Scarlets into a 6-0 lead after an ill-disciplined start from the capital side with Edinburgh getting very little from referee Andrea Piardi.

The first try of the game appeared to come from the visitors. Skinner popped a pass to fellow lock Glen Young who charged through a gap to send Price over in the corner, but his celebrations were cut short when the pass from Skinner was found to be forward.

Edinburgh, who had been on a team warning, were then reduced to 14 players with Harrison sent to the sin bin for offside.

Scarlets kicked up-field and mauled their way to the line, with van de Merwe breaking free to cross for his first try in the URC.

But they were left to kick themselves on the re-start when Gareth Davies was blown up for taking too long to play the ball.

It gifted Edinburgh a promising attacking position and Matt Currie, who is part of Scotland’s Six Nations squad, looked certain to score only for Evans to put in a try-saving tackle.

Edinburgh worked the ball across field and this time it was a brave tackle from Macs Page who stopped Boan Venter with the try-line begging.

Scarlets survived that onslaught, but lost Vaea Fifita who saw yellow after a wild swinging arm caught Wes Goosen around the neck.

Edinburgh took full advantage from the driving lineout with the skipper Skinner crashing over from close range.

They were in again in similar fashion on the stroke of half-time, this time Harrison the beneficiary of the maul. Ben Healy missed the conversion as Scarlets held on to a 13-12 lead going down the tunnel.

Scarlets drew first blood after the break as Edinburgh’s ill-discipline proved costly.

Scarlets were gifted a five metre lineout and this time it was the skipper Macloed who was driven over in the corner.

They were in again on the hour mark, van der Merwe’s tap penalty set up an attack which saw Lloyd feed a flat ball for Nicholas to run onto and score.

But Edinburgh refused to lie down and made the last 10 minutes nervy for the 5,700 home fans.

Playing with advantage, James Lang threw a looping pass out wide which Currie scooped up and took to the line before laying the ball up for Healy to score in the corner.

Scarlets conceded penalty after penalty as Edinburgh worked their way back up-field to set up a five metre lineout, which proved a deadly weapon in the first half.

And there was to be no stopping the maul with replacement hooker Morris going over to celebrate his first Edinburgh try and a bonus-point for his side.

Healy missed the touchline conversion as Scarlets clung on to their three point lead, then arguably the biggest cheer of the game went for a Macloed turnover which won back possession.

Lloyd wound down the clock with an attempt at posts and it sailed through the uprights to claim four points for the hosts, with Edinburgh heading back north with two important losing bonus points.