Scarlets continued their bright start to the GUINNESS PRO12 season with a 22-12 victory over Ulster that takes their winning run in the competition to six games.

The Welsh region, who ended champions Glasgow Warriors’ 20-match GUINNESS PRO12 unbeaten streak at Scotstoun last weekend, were 9-0 up at the break through three Dan Jones penalties.

Hadleigh Parkes extended the lead before Rory Scholes – taking the injured Andrew Trimble’s place in the side – hit back for Ulster.

An Ulster penalty try looked to have made things interesting but the home side held firm to record just their second triumph over the Northern Irishmen in their last nine PRO12 meetings.

Jones – making his home debut – got Scarlets up-and-running after just two minutes with his first penalty, bisecting the posts after Ulster were pinged for obstruction.

A superb last-ditch tackle from Scholes then prevented the hosts from extending their lead after the TMO ruled out a Scarlets try.

Jones doubled the lead from the tee after 20 minutes and added a third penalty soon after as ill-discipline continued to plague the Ulstermen.

Stuart McCloskey – man of the match in Ulster’s opening-weekend win against the Ospreys – looked to ignite the visitors with a sharp break on the half-hour mark but a knock-on in midfield halted their progress.

And it was McCloskey who had an opportunity to reduce the arrears shortly before the break, after Peter Edwards was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle – but his resulting penalty drifted wide.

Jones missed an early penalty after the break but the Welsh side didn’t spend much time kicking their heels, Parkes grabbing his second try in as many GUINNESS PRO12 games just two minutes later.

Scarlets moved the ball wide and the Kiwi winger was on hand to slide over, Jones adding the extras for a 16-0 lead after 45 minutes.

Scholes hit back for Ulster within ten minutes, scurrying over shortly after John Barclay was shown a yellow card for slowing down the ball at the ruck, but McCloskey’s conversion dropped short.

Jones landed another penalty but Ulster were not ready to throw in the towel just yet and they were awarded a penalty try nine minutes from time, referee Andrew Brace eventually losing patience with a series of Scarlets infringements.

McCloskey converted and with George Earle sent to the bin, the visitors sensed an opportunity but Aled Thomas added a late penalty for the Scarlets to ensure Ulster went home empty-handed.

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