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Scarlets secure first win of season after dominant victory over Zebre Parma
By PA
Scarlets secured their first BKT United Rugby Championship victory of the season as they beat Zebre Parma 36-12 in Llanelli.
Dwayne Peel’s side scored five tries in total courtesy of Sam Costelow (two), Sam Lousi, Jonathan Davies, and Ryan Conbeer while Leigh Halfpenny contributed 11 points from the kicking tee. MJ Pelser and Lorenzo Pani touched down for Zebre, with Geronimo Prisciantelli kicking two points.
The hosts made a strong start with a well-timed miss pass from Scott Williams finding Lousi on the touchline and he offloaded to Costelow for the opening try.
Zebre replied by putting the Scarlets under pressure with their driving lineout and, after a period of pressure, Pelser powered over from short range.
Scarlets had a try disallowed after Kieran Hardy spilled the ball forward with the try line at his mercy. But they did not have to wait long to celebrate their second try as they stretched Zebre with some nice handling down the touchline before Lousi showed his strength to score.
Halfpenny added the extras, and Zebre were soon down to 14 men after prop Luca Rizzoli was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
Scarlets led 21-5 at half-time after Davies powered his way over from short range for their third try, with Halfpenny slotting over the conversion.
The home side had the bonus point in the bag within three minutes of the second half as Costelow glided past three defenders to score.
Despite being in control, things got tricky for Scarlets when Lousi was red carded following a direct shoulder to the head of a Zebre player.
The visitors took advantage immediately when full-back Pani slid over.
Hardy had another try disallowed for Scarlets due to Sione Kalamafoni picking the ball up in an offside position from the ruck.
But the hosts were fairly comfortable despite being at a numerical disadvantage, with Halfpenny slotting over a simple three points from a penalty.
And Scarlets put the result beyond doubt with a perfectly timed grubber kick from Davies gathered by Conbeer who touched down to score.
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Latest Comments
No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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