Edinburgh showed grit and determination to come from behind and stop Scarlet’s home run as they ran out 17-16 winners in a wet and windy match in Llanelli. Second-half tries from Greig Laidlaw and Craig Hamilton made the difference in tight and hard-fought encounter.
Scarlets had won their previous three home matches but started the match without four Welsh internationals. Matthew Rees, mark Jones, Dafydd jones and Morgan Stoddart were all missing, though Sean Lamont, Jonathan Davies, Martin Roberts and Deacon Manun all came into the side.
Edinburgh had made changes of their own, with Allister Hogg and Mike Blair both injured. Chris Paterson took over the captaincy but found his team facing an uphill battle when Edinburgh went behind after just three minutes.
Edinburgh openside Ryan Grant failed to release at the ruck , gifting Scarlets an early penalty that Rhys Priestland made no mistake with. The lead lasted only four minutes though, David Blair scoring with an impressive drop-goal from outside-half that was an early highlight of his man of the match performance.
Scarlets had a chance to re-establish their lead on 22 minutes but Priestland missed his penalty kick before the opening try came four minutes later. Jonathan Davies started the break for the Welsh side before it was taken on by Lou Reed. He found Andy Fenby and his run down the touchline opened up an opportunity for openside Pugh to run over for an unconverted try.
Trailing at half-time, Edinburgh came out the more determined side in the second period. Prop Geoff Cross though he had scored a try until the television match official ruled it out but the team got what they deserved moments later. Scrum-half Laidlaw raced through to record Edinburgh’s first try and Paterson converted to put Edinburgh in front.
The lead switched again on 52 minutes when substitute Stephen Jones put Lee Williams over but Wales and Lions star Jones could not convert.
The outcome of the match was very much in doubt as both sides went at each other in what had developed into a real thriller. Edinburgh showed their drive to regain the lead when Blair found and exploited a gap before putting Hamilton over for a try that was converted by Paterson.
The home crowd did their best to rouse their side for a comeback but their chances were diminished when Josh Turnbull was yellow carded only seconds after being introduced. Scarlets kept pushing and set up a tense finish with a Jones penalty 12 minutes from time but Edinburgh kept their wits about them and squeezed space to see out time and record a satisfying and hard-earned away win.
