Nick De Luca and Andrew Maxwell scored stunning tries as Edinburgh defeated Llanelli Scarlets 27-17 at Murrayfield in Andy Robinson's first win in charge of the club.

At times, Edinburgh were on the back-foot as Scarlets centre Regan King ran in a hat-trick of tries, but a invigorating second half performance inspired by man-of-the-match Ross Rennie ensured Edinburgh chalked up a much-needed victory.

It was the club's first win since late September and helped Edinburgh climb up the Magners League standings with both David Blair and Phil Godman flourishing in the placekicking stakes.  

After surviving a handful of scares, Edinburgh finally conceded a try on the 14-minute mark when an enterprising move was expertly finished off by Kiwi centre King.

But even though Scarlets’ scrum-half Liam Davies scuffed the subsequent conversion, the pendulum had swung in favour of the side from west Wales and Edinburgh were misfiring.

The turning point that triggered Edinburgh’s renaissance was a bursting run from highly-rated flanker Ross Rennie who combined well with Mike Blair to punch a hole in the Scarlets’ defence.

David Blair scored another penalty before Andrew Maxwell took centre stage with a breathtaking solo try. The Irishman gained possession in his own half before sprinting at full tilt to touch down.

It was a special try from the former Ulster man made even more eyecatching because he was only on the pitch because first-choice winger Simon Webster had failed a fitness test the day before.

With the Scarlets all at sea, Edinburgh cranked up the pressure and another penalty from David Blair gave the home side a deserved nine-point lead.

But in the closing stages of the first half, Scarlets struck again through the stylish King to give Edinburgh a timely reminder that the game was far from finished.

Nevertheless in the second half Edinburgh took care of business and replacement Matt Dey was the catalyst behind De Luca's score that sealed a much-needed victory.

Edinburgh: Southwell, Turnbull, De Luca, Houston, Maxwell, D. Blair, M. Blair, Jacobsen, Ford, Smith, Mustchin, Gissing, Reid, Rennie, Callam.
Replacements: Dey for Houston (41), Godman for D. Blair (51), Allori for Smith (52). Not Used: Kelly, Pringle, S. Cross, Meyer.

Tries: Maxwell, De Luca

Penalties: D.Blair (3), Godman (2)

Conversions: Godman

Llanelli Scarlets: D. Evans, Daniel, King, J. Davies, G. Evans, Priestlend, L. Davies, John, Hayter, Douglas, Cooper, MacLeod, Bater, Easterby, N. Thomas.
Replacements: G. Evans for J. Davies (61), Cattle for L. Davies (74), I. Thomas for John (47), D. Jones for Bater (47). Not Used: George, Reed, G. Thomas.

Att: 1,638

Ref: George Clancy (IRFU).