LLANELLI SCARLETS RAN in four first half tries away to Edinburgh, but left it late to secure a valuable Pro12 win.
The hosts were kept in touch throughout thanks to unerring accuracy from fly-half Harry Leonard.
The 20-year-old kicked 23 of his sides 28 points, but it was Rhys Priestland’s right boot which had the final say.
Leonard’s first kick of the night was an straightforward conversion after Tim Visser had cruised under the posts from Chris Leck’s pass.
The Scarlets – bouncing back from two Heineken Cup defeats – hit back almost immediately with George North finding five points in the corner and Aled Thomas levelled the scores with a tough conversion.
Leonard would edge the Scots ahead again, but Nick Reynolds and a second try from North continued to smash Edinburgh back down after reclaiming a lead.
Leonard must have been disheartened somewhat, he delivered his fifth successful kick on the night to level matters at 19 apiece after 36 minutes.
Stuart McInally, included in the Scotland squad for November, committed the error which gifted Scarlets a bonus point and ensured the home side would trail by seven at the half way stage. McInally spilled possession to Gareth Davies and Thomas nailed the conversion again.
10 minutes after the break, momentum swung back to the hosts as Davies was sent to the sin-bin. Leonard swung over three penalties in 12 minutes to put the hosts back in the lead.
Narrow
It was to prove treacherously narrow, however. As Priestland, a 55th minute replacement for Thomas, was given the chance to edge Scarlets back in the lead by scoring their only points of the second half.
Many in Wales still tip Priestland for a Lions jersey, his 78th minute effort was no reason to argue against them.
The result keeps Scarlets in second place of the Pro12 table, just a point behind Ulster and six ahead of third place Munster. All three sides played tonight and all three took winning bonus points.
Edinburgh’s awful league form continues. Michael Bradley’s side have now lost six games on the trot in all competitions, including those two toothless, pointless defeats in the Heineken Cup.
As it happened: Munster v Zebre, RaboDirect Pro12
As it happened: Dragons v Ulster, RaboDirect Pro12
