Thomas leads the charge for Cardiff

■ By SIMON THOMAS

Scarlets ………….. 15pts

Tries: Page 1, Plumtree 11

Conversion: Costelow 2

Penalty: Costelow 5

Cardiff ……………. 24pts

Tries: Belcher 18, Grady 21, Millard 56, Thomas 63

Conversions: Sheedy 22, 64

CARDIFF turned around an early 15-0 deficit to claim a second successive bonus point victory and gain revenge for last season’s two defeats to the Scarlets.

The visitors outscored their Welsh rivals by four tries to two, with Ben Thomas claiming the clinching touchdown midway through a second half which saw three yellow cards.

Cardiff openside Dan Thomas put in a mighty display against his former team to take the player of the match award.

Coach Matt Sherratt said: “We talk a lot about fight and resilience and to come back from 15-0 down I thought we showed bucket loads of that.

“I am really pleased for the players that they got what they deserved. To get a derby win away to the Scarlets, after two disappointing results against them last season, you’ve got to enjoy that.”

Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel said: “We started brightly and were in good shape, but we just let Cardiff back into the game.

“In the second half, we just couldn’t get flow and made a lot of unforced errors which gave them field position and ultimately they got over in the end, so we are bitterly disappointed.”

Peel’s team had made a dream start, scoring a try after just 14 seconds. Wing Tom Rogers leapt high to claim the Cardiff kick-off and his chip ahead deflected off the defending Cam Winnett into the hands of teenage centre Macs Page who raced away for his second try in as many weeks.

Sam Costelow converted and added a penalty before the hosts struck again on 11 minutes.

Wing Blair Murray was involved twice in a sweeping attack, which also involved a key carry from lock Alex Craig, with Costelow throwing out a long pass which No.8 Taine Plumtree took on the bounce to score.

Needing to respond, Cardiff put their faith in attacking ambition and were rewarded with two tries in the space of three minutes. They first sent a kickable penalty into the corner to set up a lineout drive touchdown for hooker Liam Belcher and then came a score carved out by the backs.

Wing Iwan Stephens made ground down the left and, when the ball was moved right, Win-nett cut through to send wing Mason Grady away to the line. That reduced the Scarlets’ interval lead to 15-12 and they did not score again in the match.

The hosts suffered a double blow when they had hooker Ryan Elias and prop Alec Hepburn yellow carded in the space of four minutes, reducing them to 13 men.

Almost inevitably, Cardiff capitalised when successive close range scrums culminated in replacement wing Harri Millard being worked over in the left corner.

The visitors then lost a player themselves as skipper Belcher was sin binned, but they remained on top and sealed their victory on 63 minutes with a score started and finished by Ben Thomas.

He sent a kick downfield and, when Ioan Lloyd’s attempted clearance was charged down by Dan Thomas, centre Thomas picked up the loose ball and cantered over.

Costelow had a late opportunity to secure a losing bonus point, but fired wide with his penalty attempt.