Scarlets edge six-try thriller

• 27 February 2021

Edinburgh Rugby's hopes of a top-three finish took a dent this afternoon as Scarlets edged a six-try thriller at BT Murrayfield

Richard Cockerill's side went into the crucial Guinness PRO14 clash hoping to trim back the 11-point deficit separating them from the Welsh outfit, who sit third in Conference B.

However, with the Welsh side holding on for the decisive victory, the capital club will have work to be do - even with two games in hand - to catch up with Scarlets, who secured their first win at BT Murrayfield since 2013.

Tries from Magnus Bradbury, Darcy Graham and Dave Cherry left Edinburgh two points behind going into the final minutes of the game.

But their late charge faltered and Scarlets won out thanks to three scores from Tyler Morgan, Johnny McNicholl and Dane Blacker.

In the build-up to kick-off, Edinburgh were able to include Grant Gilchrist, Jaco Van Der Walt and Graham in their starting XV after they were released from the Scotland squad following the postponement of Sunday's clash with France.

But it was Scarlets' own indiscipline that handed Edinburgh the opener as the Scottish side made the most of two penalties inside the opening four minutes to drive to the tryline, with Bradbury barging over.

Delaney's team continued to get on the wrong side of referee Ben Blain as Dan Jones' penalty was quickly cancelled out by Van Der Walt.

But Scarlets got the benefit of the doubt from the TMO as Morgan burst through from Tom Prydie's suspiciously forward-looking offload to draw the scores level after 18 minutes as he dotted down under the posts.

Van Der Walt nudged Edinburgh back in front with a penalty, however Scarlets were quick to get back on the front foot after making the most of loose play from the capital side's back line.

Scarlets wasted no time punishing a wayward offload as they worked the ball all the way left for McNicholl who finished brilliantly in the corner on the half-hour mark.

Yet Edinburgh continued to play with the handbrake off and hit back after a madcap phase of play just two minutes before the break that saw possession swap back on fourth before Van Der Walt stepped past Steff Evans before slotting in Graham to make amends for his earlier mistake.

The hosts had smiles on their faces as they went down the tunnel leading 20-17 - but it did not take long for them to be wiped off by a rapid 10-point swing in Scarlets' favour.

The crazy action resumed just two minutes into the second period as Evans used his dribbling skills to boot a bouncing ball beyond Van Der Walt as he sprinted up field from halfway, with the supporting Blacker diving over the line for a score that was quickly followed up by another Jones penalty.

Edinburgh's top-three hopes were slipping away but they refused to give up without a fight. Cherry powered over from a line-out maul but Van Der Walt's missed conversion meant Scarlets retained a two-point lead with 20 minutes remaining.

The Scotland stand-off was again unlucky as his penalty attempt from almost halfway drifted wide but Edinburgh still had time to play with.

However, after 20 and more phases of action, Graham's late charge for the line came to nothing as Scarlets held firm for a vital win.