REPORT: Scarlets slip to Bath defeat

Todd Blackadder’s side scored tries courtesy of Henry Thomas, wing Jack Wilson, lock Dave Attwood, a brace from Joe Cokanasiga, scrum half Chris Cook and Levi Davis. But the Scarlets did score two tries of their own through outside half Rhys Patchell and tighthead prop Werner Kruger.

Bath came out of the blocks like a house on fire and scored their first try within five minutes and had former Scarlets man Rhys Priestland to thank for it. The outside half put in a nice grubber kick which Steff Evans was unable to gather.

With the visitors under pressure on their own try line Bath tight head Thomas powered his way over from short range. Wayne Pivac’s side hit back with a series of powerful driving lineouts on the Bath five metre line resulting in Wales star Taulupe Faletau being sent to the sin bin after cynically stopping the visitors crossing the line.

Scarlets refused to take the three points and opted for a scrum with Sam Hidalgo-Clyne exploiting Faletau’s absence on the blindside to put Patchell over. The hosts almost immediately retook the lead when the Scarlets were penalised at scrum time.

Priestland kicked for the corner with a strong driving lineout setting the platform for the ball to be spread wide with Wilson crossing at the far left-hand corner. Bath kept up the pressure with the visitors struggling to defend their driving maul.

The forwards then went through the motions with Attwood muscling his way over the line to give the visitors a 19-7 half time lead. Blackadder’s side started the second half as they started the first.

Scarlets wing Evans kicked possession away allowing Cokanasiga to charge down the touchline before bumping off Patchell to cross at the corner. Hidalgo-Clyne came close to dragging the west walians back into the game with a scintillating break from his own half but was unable to regather his chip ahead.

The Scarlets were relentless in attack and finally got their just rewards when Kruger was able to cross the whitewash after a powerful driving lineout. Bath grabbed their fifth try when van Vureen peeled off from a rampaging maul to barge his way over the try line.

Cokanasiga extended Bath’s lead when he intercepted a Steffan Hughes pass to run in unopposed from 40 metres out. Davis sealed Bath’s win when he broke clear from yet another Bath lineout to touch down at the corner.