United Rugby Championship: Scarlets 36-12 Zebre - Hosts clinch first season win

Scarlets sealed their first United Rugby Championship win of the season with a convincing home bonus-point victory over bottom club Zebre.

This was despite Scarlets flanker Sam Lousi being shown a red card for a dangerous tackle in the 52nd minute.

Fly-half Sam Costelow crossed for two tries with further scores from Lousi, Jonathan Davies and Ryan Conbeer and 11 points from Leigh Halfpenny.

The victory lifted Scarlets from 15th to 13th in the table.

Tongan forward Lousi became the second Scarlets forward to be shown a red card in successive games following Vaea Fifita's reckless ruck clearout against Cardiff.

Fifita was banned for an initial four weeks and Lousi can now expect a similar suspension.

Scarlets were indebted to a powerful display by outstanding number eight and player-of-the-match Sione Kalamafoni.

Returning flanker Josh Macleod proved a nuisance at the breakdown while Costelow and Conbeer were incisive in the backline.

Captain Davies produced one of his most impressive performances in recent times and Halfpenny was assured as he continued his comeback from long-term injury.

It was a welcome win for head coach Dwayne Peel who had seen his side draw one and lose three of the opening four league games.

Zebre responded tries from MJ Pelser and Lorenzo Pani but remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Scott returns

Centre Scott Williams made his first start of the season after recovering from a knee injury and was one of seven personnel changes from the team defeated by Cardiff.

Kieran Hardy, Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Harri O'Connor, Jac Price and Macleod also came in.

It was Wales hooker Owens' first Scarlets start for a year. Since recovering from a back injury, Owens started for Carmarthen Quins and made two replacement appearances for Scarlets against Benetton and Cardiff.

Lousi, who had switched to flanker with Fifita suspended and Blade Thomson injured, created the opening score following a lovely long flat pass from Scott Williams.

Lousi charged down the left hand side and fed Costelow with Halfpenny converting from the touchline.

Zebre retaliated with a try from a driving lineout for flanker Pelser before a Jonathan Davies score was disallowed following a Hardy knock-on.

Scarlets were not to be denied as Lousi burrowed his way over before Zebre prop Luca Rizzoli was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Scott Williams.

The impressive Kalamafoni produced another storming run to set up the third try for captain Davies as the hosts led 21-5 at half-time.

Costelow scored his second and the Scarlets' bonus-point try early in the second half before Lousi was sent off for a high tackle on Zebre fly-half Geronimo Prisciantelli, who was making his debut.

The decision was made by South African referee Morne Ferreira on his league debut.

With the Scarlets having to play 30 minutes with 14 men, Zebre immediately took advantage with a try for full-back Pani as the rain hammered down in Llanelli.

Another incisive Kalamafoni carry appeared to have created Scarlets' fifth try for replacement scrum-half Dane Blacker.

Television replays ruled out the score after the officials ruled the number eight was guilty of a technical offside offence when picking up possession from the ruck.

Halfpenny slotted over a late penalty before captain Davies produced some ingenuity with a clever grubber kick that was latched onto by Conbeer to complete the scoring.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel: "It has been a good preparation week. Having not come out on top in the last couple of games, it was nice to get that win.

"We were good at times when we had the ball and played with tempo. In the second half we had to cope with the nasty weather coming in and going down to 14 men.

"It is one win but we are not where we want to be in the table. We have to build now and this is hopefully the momentum. We have to enjoy winning and try and make that a habit."

Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Johnny McNicholl, Jonathan Davies (capt), Scott Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Harri O'Connor Jac Price, Tom Price, Sam Lousi, Josh Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Steff Thomas, Javan Sebastian, Morgan Jones, Shaun Evans, Dane Blacker, Rhys Patchell, Steff Evans.

Zebre: Lorenzo Pani; Pierre Bruno, Franco Smith Jr, Tommaso Boni, Latu Latunipulu; Geronimo Prisciantelli, Chris Cook; Luca Rizzoli, Marco Manfredi, Matteo Nocera, David Sisi (capt), Leonard Krumov, Iacopo Bianchi, MJ Pelser, Davide Ruggeri.

Replacements: Jacques Du Toit, Alessio Sanavia, Muhamed Hasa, Andrea Zambonin, Guido Volpi, Nicolò Casilio, Joey Caputo, Nicolo Teneggi.

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

Assistant referees: Ian Davies & Tom Spurrier (WRU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU).