United Rugby Championship: Scarlets 32-20 Sharks - Costelow seals shock win

Scarlets celebrated a famous United Rugby Championship (URC) win against a strong Sharks side in Llanelli.

Wing Steff Evans scored two tries while Wales fly-half Sam Costelow kicked 22 points, including six penalties.

Sharks responded with tries from South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi.

Sharks fly-half Curwin Bosch kicked 10 points but the South African team could not capitalise on scrum dominance against an inspired Scarlets side.

Wales centre Johnny Williams was given player-of-the-match for his work in attack and defence, while Scarlets lock Sam Lousi and flanker Josh Macleod were also outstanding.

Scarlets still mathematically have a chance of pipping Cardiff and Ospreys to finish as the highest Welsh region in the URC and achieve Heineken Champions Cup qualification next season.

Dwayne Peel's side will have to win their two final matches against Glasgow and Dragons and hope other results go their way.

However they can still savour this victory in their last home league game.

Sharks had arrived in Llanelli with a fully-loaded starting side that included Kolisi and fellow Springboks Ox Nche, Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi.

Scarlets centre Williams was starting his first game in almost seven months but Wales internationals Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Rhys Patchell and Leigh Halfpenny were absent.

Scarlets almost scored with a brilliant move from their own line involving Sione Kalamafoni, Gareth Davies, Tom Rogers and Steff Evans, whose final pass was intercepted by Mapimpi.

The hosts' were not to be denied with another flowing move involving Rogers before Vaea Fifita's intervention allowed wing Evans to score.

Costelow converted before slotting over two penalties with centre Williams causing concerns in the Sharks midfield defence.

The South African side responded with a try from skipper Kolisi from a driving maul while the Sharks' scrum began to dominate their opponents.

Scarlets still led by six points at half-time and were indebted to Sam Lousi repelling a final Sharks attack of the half.

Scarlets conceded another scrum penalty which Bosch slotted over.

Evans scored an opportunistic try after Mapimpi and full-back Boeta Chamberlain were caught out by a speculative Costelow kick.

Costelow converted and slotted over two penalties as Scarlets harried their opponents.

Sharks reverted to type and hooker Mbonambi muscled his way over from a driving maul.

Bosch converted before kicking a long-range penalty from inside his own half to bring his side to within a score.

Scarlets rallied again and Costelow kicked two late penalties to seal the victory.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel: "There are some games you remember and I'm sure the players will remember that one.

"It was a great feeling in the changing room afterwards and felt like where we wanted to be. It was a big game for us and we spoke about that beforehand.

"Everybody commented on the Sharks team and the abundance of world-class players they have.

"We prepared well for this game and we managed to get amongst them from the word go."

Scarlets centre Johnny Williams told S4C: "It was amazing. It's so good to be back out here at Parc y Scarlets.

"They're an amazing team, but honestly I'm so proud of the effort. The crowd was class as well. It's amazing to be back out here. It's our last home game in the URC so it's good to send it off like that."

"I don't really think about a Wales recall. I'm just glad I'm back in a Scarlets shirt. It's my second game back after a tough injury with my calf that I really struggled with. It's so good to lace the boots up.

Scarlets captain Josh Macleod told S4C: "It's even more pleasing because I was hearing, in games earlier on today, commentators and that writing us off. No one's mentioned us leading up to this with their team-sheet.

"But never write this team off. We're building something really special with this coaching team. We're looking to kick on with Europe next week. This was a massive test and next week will be exactly the same."

Scarlets: Tom Rogers; Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans, Javan Sebastian, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Taylor Davies, Steff Thomas, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Aaron Shingler, Kieran Hardy, Dan Jones, Ioan Nicholas.

Sharks: Boeta Chamberlain; Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden, Siya Kolisi (capt), Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi.

Replacements: Kerron van Vuurren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlu Sadie, Gerbrandt Grobler, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Grant Williams, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Ian Davies & Jason Griffiths (WRU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)