Scarlets 10-16 Cardiff: Visitors brush aside controversy to seal United Rugby Championship win

Cardiff put aside a controversial week off the field with a hard-fought Welsh derby victory over 14-man Scarlets.

Dai Young's side had been under the microscope after allegations of indiscipline by some players on a night out.

Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams scored a try with fly-half Jarrod Evans adding 11 points.

Scarlets scored a try through Johnny McNicholl but saw a red card shown to New Zealander Vaea Fifita.

The All Black was sent off for a late and dangerous illegal clearout on Cardiff flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes.

Scarlets remain winless this season as they languish 15th in the United Rugby Championship table with only Zebre below them.

Dwayne Peel's side have not won in three home league games with Scarlets' supporters sure to be alarmed by another lacklustre display.

Both sides were desperate for a victory after disappointing starts to the campaign and this low quality affair in Llanelli demonstrated the result was the most important factor in this contest, rather than the performance.

Cardiff will be pleased with the character shown, typified by inspirational captain Josh Turnbull.

Cardiff controversy

Cardiff's preparations had been affected by off-the-field controversy following allegations of inappropriate behaviour during a social gathering the day after a 31-18 defeat by Lions.

Club officials had met managers at a Cardiff pub where it is claimed players threatened staff and threw eggs.

Young says an ongoing investigation is being held by senior executive and board members with players being held accountable if they were found guilty.

The Cardiff director of rugby, who is not part of that probe, made six starting changes with Dmitri Arhip, Jason Harries, Uilisi Halaholo, Rhys Carre, Kristian Dacey and Thomas Young coming in for Dillon Lewis, Aled Summerhill, Max Llewellyn, Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher and James Botham.

Scarlets, who have a long injury list that now includes Wales centre Johnny Williams, made six alterations to the side that lost to Benetton with Johnny McNicholl, Corey Baldwin, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Ryan Elias and Blade Thomson starting.

Cardiff opened the scoring with an Evans penalty before Rey Lee-Lo was forced off with a head injury suffered during an attempted tackle on Jonathan Davies, who had switched to inside centre. Llewellyn replaced the Samoan centre.

Halaholo almost created the opening try with a charging run that included bouncing off the challenge of Leigh Halfpenny before the ball was fumbled just short of the tryline.

Cardiff number eight Taulupe Faletau repelled a Scarlets attack with a crucial defensive effort before Halfpenny levelled the scores.

The visitors responded with a try for scrum-half Williams after fine work from Wales prop Carre.

Scarlets appeared to have retaliated with a well-worked finish from Baldwin but the final pass from Costelow was deemed forward.

Lewis-Hughes replaced Timani before a try for McNicholl was ruled out because of a Sam Lousi knock-on.

Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias returned to the starting side after missing the 34-23 defeat against Benetton

An attempted Halfpenny kick hit the post as Cardiff led by seven points at half-time.

Evans extended the lead early in the second half with two penalties before Scarlets rung the changes with five replacements at the same time, including the introduction of British and Irish Lions duo Ken Owens and Wyn Jones.

Cardiff made their own changes with Evans going off and Rhys Priestland slipping into 10 and Harries switching from wing to full-back.

As Scarlets tried to bring themselves back into the game with number eight Sione Kalamafoni and Owens at the helm, Halfpenny was held up over the Cardiff line with Tomos Williams instrumental in that rearguard resistance.

Cardiff replacement hooker Kirby Myhill was shown a yellow card for being offside by referee Adam Jones as the visitors' determined defence initially kept out the hosts.

With wing Theo Cabango going off to accommodate the return of hooker Kristian Dacey, Scarlets took advantage with McNicholl cantering in unopposed and Halfpenny converting to bring the home side within a score.

When Cabango came back on the field to restore Cardiff's full quota, he was quickly shown a yellow card for also being offside.

But the penalty was reversed when Fifita was penalised and shown a red card for his reckless clearout under the Cardiff posts.

This scuppered Scarlets' hopes of a late comeback and enabled Cardiff to clinch victory.

Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Johnny McNicholl, Corey Baldwin, Jonathan Davies (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Steff Thomas Ryan Elias, Javan Sebastian, Tom Price, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Blade Thomson, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Harri O'Connor, Jac Price, Shaun Evans, Dane Blacker, Dan Jones, Steff Evans.

Cardiff Rugby: Rhys Priestland; Jason Harries, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (captain), Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd Williams, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn.

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Assistant referees: Elgan Williams & Mark Butcher (WRU)

TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)