James Davies’ man-of-the-match display ensured Scarlets maintained their unbeaten home record as Leinster missed an opportunity to climb back into the GUINNESS PRO12 top four.

The flanker’s hard running and tireless work at the breakdown helped seal a 23-13 victory that means the Welsh side haven’t lost at Parc y Scarlets for 15 months.

Ben Te’o and John Barclay exchanged first-half tries as Leinster established a two-point lead at half-time but Jordan Williams and Rory Pitman went over after the break as Wayne Pivac’s men went a converted try in front.

A late penalty then put the game beyond doubt as Scarlets move just three points behind sixth-place Connacht while Leinster stay fifth.

Matt O’Connor made nine changes to the line-up that drew 9-9 with Ospreys in Swansea last weekend, including giving Ireland prop Cian Healy a first start since round one.

And those changes seemed to galvanise the visitors in the early stages as an end-to-end start saw both teams looking dangerous.

Although it was Scarlets fly-half Steve Shingler who opened the scoring from the tee after nine minutes – taking him over 100 GUINNESS PRO12 points for the season – O’Connor’s troops soon responded.

Slick work in midfield won a penalty and after opting to kick to the corner, Te’o dotted down for his first league try of the season – Jimmy Gopperth nailing the conversion.

At 7-3 up, Leinster’s pack began to exert their dominance and a Gopperth penalty from in front of the posts put another three points on the scoreboard before the hosts came roaring back.

A well-worked move saw Scotland international Barclay appear to touch down in the right-hand corner and the try was awarded after consultation with the TMO.

Shingler pushed the tricky conversion wide and that proved to be the difference at half-time as the Irish side held a narrow 10-8 lead.

But it was Pivac’s troops who struck first after the break thanks to a moment of magic from Regan King on his 100th GUINNESS PRO12 appearance.

After a number of phases the ball was worked wide to King and the veteran Kiwi drew in two defenders before slipping the ball to Williams, who had the simplest of run-ins.

Gopperth narrowed the gap to two points with his second penalty but Pitman extended the advantage once again with a little under a quarter of the game remaining.

The ball went through the hands and the No.8 used every pound of his 19 stone frame to barrel through a helpless Gopperth and stretch out for the score – Shingler just missing the tricky conversion.

Facing a seven-point deficit, Leinster pushed forward in search of a score but some careless handling cost them and replacement Scarlets kicker Rhys Priestland put the game beyond doubt with a 75th minute penalty.

And the Irish side’s last chance to at least secure a losing bonus point came and went when Zane Kirchner burst through the home defence but fumbled before grounding the ball over the line.

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