Scarlets punish sluggish Cheetahs

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A fast finish could not make up for the Cheetahs’ slow start as Scarlets streaked to an impressive Challenge Cup victory in Parma on Saturday afternoon.

Scarlets scored six tries to beat the Cheetahs 45-26 despite the Free Staters outscoring their opponents 19-7 in the second half.

Ironically, the Cheetahs scored two minutes after kickoff through winger Munier Hartzenberg and Ruan Pienaar added the extras.

But the remainder of the first half belonged to Scarlets as the men from Llanelli put on a clinic.

Running in five straight tries and grabbing the bonus-point along the way, winger Steff Evans’ brace and five-pointers from flyhalf Sam Costelow, winger Ryan Conbeer and lock Sam Lousi, all contributed to Scarlets’ 38-7 lead at the break.

The Cheetahs came out a different team in the second half but Scarlets stood strong until the 63rd-minute.  The South Africans finally found the key to Scarlets’ defence in the fourth quarter to clinch a bonus point by scoring three tries in 10 minutes through centre Reinhardt Fortuin, winger Daniel Kasende and flanker Friedle Olivier.

Determined to finish strong, Scarlets veteran Ken Owens crashed over from the back of a driving maul to close out a 45-26 victory over the Cheetahs.

Photo: Twitter/@CheetahsRugby

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Rienk De Beer