United Rugby Championship: Scarlets 23-29 Connacht

Connacht wing John Porch scored his side's third try at Parc y Scarlets

Ireland fly-half Jack Carty inspired Connacht to a first victory at Parc y Scarlets as they celebrated a United Rugby Championship win in Llanelli.

Carty kicked 14 points as Sam Arnold, Leva Fifita and John Porch crossed for tries.

Fifita was sent off for two yellow cards but Connacht held on for victory.

Scarlets had led 10-0 early on through a try from returning Wales centre Johnny Williams before a second-half penalty try.

Connacht had previously been defeated in all six away games this season and they halted a four-match losing streak.

The last time this Irish province won in Llanelli was at the old Stradey Park in 2004, with 11 previous defeats at Parc y Scarlets.

The Scarlets also completed an unwanted record of losing against all four Irish provinces this season after previous league defeats against Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Wales centre Johnny Williams played his first game since November after recovering from a calf injury and partnered captain Scott Williams, while Aaron Shingler was included in a reshuffled back row.

Connacht included Carty and Dave Heffernan after the pair returned from Ireland camp, while scrum-half Kieran Marmion led his side out as he became the fifth player to reach 200 appearances for the province.

Scarlets fly-half Dan Jones opened the scoring with a penalty before the home side spurned a try-scoring chance when Shingler went through but could not find scrum-half Dane Blacker with his inside pass.

The hosts were successful when the Wales centres combined with Johnny Williams latching onto a clever grubber kick from namesake Scott.

Jones converted before his wayward attacking kick changed the complexion of the first half.

It cost Scarlets dear as the speculative cross kick was gathered by Connacht centre Tom Daly who found his midfield partner Arnold to score.

Wales centre Johnny Williams was playing in his third game of the season for Scarlets

Carty missed the conversion before slotting over two penalties to take the lead before Jones regained his composure to regain the advantage for the hosts with a long-range penalty.

Connacht responded with a try just before half-time after good work from Paul Boyle and man-of-the-match and flanker Cian Prendergast allowed a score for Fifita, brother of Vaea, who will join Scarlets next season.

Carty converted to give Connacht an 18-13 interval lead before slotting over his third penalty early in the second half.

Scarlets sent on Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy, who had been released from the Six Nations squad to play.

The home indiscipline continued with Dan Jones caught offside and opposite number Carty slotting over three points.

Jones was warned by referee Craig Evans for a comment he made as he was replaced by Rhys Patchell.

Fifita was shown a yellow card and Scarlets awarded a penalty try for tackling Hardy following a quick tap penalty to reduce the deficit to nine points.

Hardy and Patchell initiated a Scarlets revival with their introduction but they could not inspire an end product as the home side could not convert pressure and possession into points.

Hardy squandered a gilt-edged chance after spilling a pass from impressive number eight Sione Kalamafoni before replacement hooker Marc Jones dropped the ball on the Connacht line.

Scarlets turned down a penalty attempt to reduce the deficit to within a score and were penalised a metre from the Connacht line.

Fifita was sent off for a harsh second yellow card after he was adjudged by referee Evans to have taken out Ioan Nicholas off the ball.

Patchell slotted the penalty to bring the Scarlets within a score but 14-man Connacht held on for victory in the final five minutes.

Scarlets: Nicholas; Rogers, J Williams, S Williams (capt), Conbeer; D Jones, Blacker; S Thomas, D Hughes, Lee, Lousi, M Jones, Shingler, S Evans, Kalamafoni.

Replacements: M Jones, P Price, Sebastian, J Price, Tuipulotu, Hardy, Patchell, J Roberts.

Connacht: O'Halloran; Sullivan, Arnold, Daly, Porch; Carty (capt), Marmion; Duggan, Heffernan, Tuimauga, Murray, Fifita, Prendergast, Butler, Boyle.

Replacements: Delahunt, McGrath, Aungier, Masterson, Papali'i, Blade, Fitzgerald, Farrell.

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Assistants: Elgan Williams & Jason Bessant (WRU)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)