Leicester Tigers went down to a first defeat of their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign, as Scarlets secured a 15-3 victory on Saturday night.
Tigers took the lead through Owen Williams’ penalty in the 14th minute of a scrappy encounter at Parc y Scarlets.
But the hosts punished handling errors to score a try in each half through wing Harry Robinson and scrum-half Aled Davies.
Replacement Steve Shingler kicked the rest of the Scarlets points as the Welsh side prevented Tigers taking a losing bonus point from the Pool 3 encounter.
Anthony Allen returned to the starting line-up after returning from injury and partnered Vereniki Goneva at centre. Miles Benjamin started on the wing with Owen Williams moving to fly-half on his return to his former club.
Marcos Ayerza made his 50th European appearance since his club debut in 2006. The Argentina international became the 11th Tigers player to reach the landmark in European competition.
Scarlets were forced into a late change to their announced team when lock Jake Ball withdrew after the warm-up to be replaced by Richard Kelly.
Tigers started brightly and had Scarlets under pressure early in the game when Goneva latched onto a knock-on in midfield. However, he was unable to make a clean break and his kick ahead was fielded by Liam Williams.
Goneva and Blaine Scully were heavily involved in the opening exchanges, Scully’s break down the right halted by a foot in touch before the USA international earned a lineout on the Scarlets 22 when his kick ahead was blocked into touch.
A first phase move saw Benjamin take Tigers to within five metres of the line on the left and when play was moved back to the right Allen fumbled possession with the tryline in sight.
Williams snuffed out a Scarlets breakaway with an excellent tackle on Michael Tagicakibau as the Welsh side looked to run out of defence.
Williams, on his return to Scarlets, was at the centre of the action again when a late tackle on the fly-half gave Tigers a penalty on the hosts’ 22.
Scarlets were forced into a change when Rory Pitman came off with a shoulder injury and was replaced by James Davies before Williams went for the corner with the penalty. However, Scarlets defended the drive and won the scrum put-in when the maul went to ground.
Pressure from Julian Salvi as the ball came out of the scrum earned Tigers a second penalty and Williams put their first points on the board with his kick. It gave Tigers a 3-0 lead after 17 minutes.
But despite Tigers’ excellent work in the opening quarter it was Scarlets who scored the game’s opening try. Benjamin, under pressure from Scarlets attackers, spilled possession close to his line and wing Harry Robinson swooped for a simple score.
Rhys Priestland was wide with the conversion and was off target moments later with a 40m penalty. A lineout infringement gave the Wales international a third kick in the space of seven minutes but he hooked his kick across the posts.
Scarlets lock Kelly was replaced through injury by Lewis Rawlins on 30 minutes.
Johan Snyman then made a break to take Scarlets back into the Tigers 22 where they won a third kickable penalty. Steve Shingler took over kicking duties and landed the penalty to move Scarlets 8-3 ahead five minutes before half-time.
Shingler missed the chance to extend the lead with another penalty at a lineout.
Instead, good work by Kitchener in the tackleon Kristian Phillips and Salvi on the ground won a penalty on halfway, but Williams was wide with his kick, the last action of the half.
Scarlets began the second period on the front foot, working a half opening on the left where Youngs and Scully tackled Robinson into touch.
Goneva was fingertips away from collecting a loose ball on the Leicester 10m line with the Scarlets defence scattered. Goneva was at the centre of the action again, chipping into the Scarlets 22 where Liam Williams appeared to knock-on before clearing to touch.
Tigers put together the phases to give themselves a foothold in the Scarlets half before Scully knocked on in a tackle on the 22.
Burns replaced Allen after 51 minutes, coming on at fly-half with Williams moving to centre.
Williams threatened at the next attack, making 20m down the left into the Scarlets 22 but Tigers gave away the penalty in their desire to secure quick ball.
A handling error on halfway allowed Priestland to kick to the corner where Tait was put under pressure by Robinson. But Tigers secured possession for Youngs to clear to touch.
Tigers came under intense pressure as wave after wave of Scarlets attacks rained down on the Leicester defence inside their 22. But Tigers held firm and more good work on the floor by Salvi was rewarded with a penalty under their own posts.
A lovely exchange of passes between Youngs and Burns gave the scrum-half a run into Scarlets territory but he was well tackled by Liam Williams.
Youngs looked to make another break down the side of a ruck but his pass was intercepted by opposite number Aled Davies, who had a free run to the left corner for Scarlets’ second try. Shingler added the conversion to give Scarlets a 15-3 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Tigers looked for a quick response with Burns and Williams combining to give Scully and then Benjamin a run into the Scarlets 22 where he was well tackled.
David Mele, Sebastian de Chaves, Robert Barbieri and Michele Rizzo came on with 10 minutes remaining as Tigers looked to take something out of the game.
A break by Benjamin took Tigers into the 22 for one final time but Mele’s handling error at the back of a ruck saw the position go away as Scarlets saw out the win and denied Tigers a bonus point.
Tigers took the lead through Owen Williams’ penalty in the 14th minute of a scrappy encounter at Parc y Scarlets.
But the hosts punished handling errors to score a try in each half through wing Harry Robinson and scrum-half Aled Davies.
Replacement Steve Shingler kicked the rest of the Scarlets points as the Welsh side prevented Tigers taking a losing bonus point from the Pool 3 encounter.
Anthony Allen returned to the starting line-up after returning from injury and partnered Vereniki Goneva at centre. Miles Benjamin started on the wing with Owen Williams moving to fly-half on his return to his former club.
Marcos Ayerza made his 50th European appearance since his club debut in 2006. The Argentina international became the 11th Tigers player to reach the landmark in European competition.
Scarlets were forced into a late change to their announced team when lock Jake Ball withdrew after the warm-up to be replaced by Richard Kelly.
Tigers started brightly and had Scarlets under pressure early in the game when Goneva latched onto a knock-on in midfield. However, he was unable to make a clean break and his kick ahead was fielded by Liam Williams.
Goneva and Blaine Scully were heavily involved in the opening exchanges, Scully’s break down the right halted by a foot in touch before the USA international earned a lineout on the Scarlets 22 when his kick ahead was blocked into touch.
A first phase move saw Benjamin take Tigers to within five metres of the line on the left and when play was moved back to the right Allen fumbled possession with the tryline in sight.
Williams snuffed out a Scarlets breakaway with an excellent tackle on Michael Tagicakibau as the Welsh side looked to run out of defence.
Williams, on his return to Scarlets, was at the centre of the action again when a late tackle on the fly-half gave Tigers a penalty on the hosts’ 22.
Scarlets were forced into a change when Rory Pitman came off with a shoulder injury and was replaced by James Davies before Williams went for the corner with the penalty. However, Scarlets defended the drive and won the scrum put-in when the maul went to ground.
Pressure from Julian Salvi as the ball came out of the scrum earned Tigers a second penalty and Williams put their first points on the board with his kick. It gave Tigers a 3-0 lead after 17 minutes.
But despite Tigers’ excellent work in the opening quarter it was Scarlets who scored the game’s opening try. Benjamin, under pressure from Scarlets attackers, spilled possession close to his line and wing Harry Robinson swooped for a simple score.
Rhys Priestland was wide with the conversion and was off target moments later with a 40m penalty. A lineout infringement gave the Wales international a third kick in the space of seven minutes but he hooked his kick across the posts.
Scarlets lock Kelly was replaced through injury by Lewis Rawlins on 30 minutes.
Johan Snyman then made a break to take Scarlets back into the Tigers 22 where they won a third kickable penalty. Steve Shingler took over kicking duties and landed the penalty to move Scarlets 8-3 ahead five minutes before half-time.
Shingler missed the chance to extend the lead with another penalty at a lineout.
Instead, good work by Kitchener in the tackleon Kristian Phillips and Salvi on the ground won a penalty on halfway, but Williams was wide with his kick, the last action of the half.
Scarlets began the second period on the front foot, working a half opening on the left where Youngs and Scully tackled Robinson into touch.
Goneva was fingertips away from collecting a loose ball on the Leicester 10m line with the Scarlets defence scattered. Goneva was at the centre of the action again, chipping into the Scarlets 22 where Liam Williams appeared to knock-on before clearing to touch.
Tigers put together the phases to give themselves a foothold in the Scarlets half before Scully knocked on in a tackle on the 22.
Burns replaced Allen after 51 minutes, coming on at fly-half with Williams moving to centre.
Williams threatened at the next attack, making 20m down the left into the Scarlets 22 but Tigers gave away the penalty in their desire to secure quick ball.
A handling error on halfway allowed Priestland to kick to the corner where Tait was put under pressure by Robinson. But Tigers secured possession for Youngs to clear to touch.
Tigers came under intense pressure as wave after wave of Scarlets attacks rained down on the Leicester defence inside their 22. But Tigers held firm and more good work on the floor by Salvi was rewarded with a penalty under their own posts.
A lovely exchange of passes between Youngs and Burns gave the scrum-half a run into Scarlets territory but he was well tackled by Liam Williams.
Youngs looked to make another break down the side of a ruck but his pass was intercepted by opposite number Aled Davies, who had a free run to the left corner for Scarlets’ second try. Shingler added the conversion to give Scarlets a 15-3 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Tigers looked for a quick response with Burns and Williams combining to give Scully and then Benjamin a run into the Scarlets 22 where he was well tackled.
David Mele, Sebastian de Chaves, Robert Barbieri and Michele Rizzo came on with 10 minutes remaining as Tigers looked to take something out of the game.
A break by Benjamin took Tigers into the 22 for one final time but Mele’s handling error at the back of a ruck saw the position go away as Scarlets saw out the win and denied Tigers a bonus point.
