Pro12: Scarlets 24-15 Treviso

Scarlets strengthened their place in the Pro12 play-off positions with a laboured home win over bottom side Treviso.

Tries from Steffan Evans and James Davies in the opening quarter saw Scarlets lead 14-3 at the break.

Two second half Robert Barbieri tries put Treviso ahead but Scarlets responded through Evans' second try.

But Scarlets failed to score a fourth try which would have secured a bonus point.

Wales' Six Nations squad players Jake Ball and Aled Davies in addition to Scotland flanker John Barclay started for Scarlets.

Treviso went into the game as the Pro12's bottom side despite back-to-back wins over Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons.

Aled Thomas had an early opportunity to secure the first points of the game but he pulled his penalty to the left of the post, as did Treviso's Jayden Hayward.

Scarlets are third in the Pro12 following their win over Treviso

Wing Evans' superbly taken individual try, his third of the season, put Scarlets ahead with Thomas adding the conversion.

Davies was adjudged following deliberations between referee John Lacey and TMO Derek Bevan to have got the ball down on the whitewash for the home side's second try.

Full-back Hayward made up for his earlier penalty miss to secure the first points for Treviso, who came close to a try but referee John Lacey ruled Barbieri had been held up.

Treviso's Alberto Lucchese was yellow carded early in the second half after the scrum-half cynically went off his feet but Scarlets failed to capitalise during his 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

And it was the visitors who scored the game's third try as Barbieri took advantage of a Scarlets mistake at the lineout to touch down.

Four minutes later Barbieri intercepted debutant replacement Connor Lloyd's pass to run in for a simple second try and bring the Italians within a point of Scarlets.

Hayward's conversion put Treviso ahead for the first time as Scarlets were made to pay for their mistakes.

But Wayne Pivac's side responded as replacement Dan Jones' penalty edged them in front before Evans crossed for his second try of the evening.

Evans used his feet well to beat a couple of defenders and Jones made sure of the conversion and seal the victory.

TEAM DETAILS

Scarlets: Michael Collins; Steff Evans, Regan King, Hadleigh Parkes (capt), DTH van der Merwe; Aled Thomas, Aled Davies; Dylan Evans, Kirby Myhill, Peter Edwards, Jake Ball, David Bulbring, Maselino Paulino, James Davies, John Barclay.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Phil John, Rhodri Jones, Tom Price, Will Boyde, Connor Lloyd, Dan Jones, Gareth Owen.

Treviso: Jayden Hayward, Angelo Esposito, Luca Morisi, Alberto Sgarbi (capt), Tommaso Iannone; Sam Christie, Alberto Lucchese; Alberto De Marchi, Luca Bigi, Simone Ferrari, Filo Paulo, Tom Palmer, Marco Barbini, Marco Lazzaroni, Robert Barbieri.

Replacements: Federico Zani, Cherif Traore, Filippo Filippetto, Jeff Montauriol, Dean Budd, Abraham Steyn, Chris Smylie, Simone Ragusi.

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges, Wayne Davies (WRU)

Citing commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (WRU)

TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)