A dream return for Rhys Patchell saw the fly-half help Scarlets to a bonus point win over Edinburgh and saw the Welsh side earn a 13th Guinness PRO12 win in their last 15 matches. A try double from Patchell, as well as efforts from Wyn Jones and James Davies, meant Phil Burleigh’s effort for the visitors was in vain as all the points were scored in the first half. Patchell made his presence felt in just the third minute of the game when, after three months on the sidelines, the fly-half ran in a fine solo effort from inside his own half – but missed the conversion from wide on the left touchline. A Duncan Weir penalty reduced Edinburgh’s arrears in the eighth minute, but ten minutes later Jones made it two Scarlets tries as he bundled over from the rolling maul after Patchell turned down three points to kick for the corner – the fly-half converting. And two tries became three before 25 minutes as a delayed pass sent Davies over for his second try of the season, with Patchell making it two kicks from three. But Edinburgh kept within touching distance almost immediately as a charged down Aled Davies kick led to Allan Dell feeding Burleigh to go over for a simple try, with Weir knocking over the conversion. Scarlets were back on the board just after the half hour mark, though, as Jonathan Davies’ stripped the ball from the Edinburgh defence after Aled Davies’ chip kick, leading to a pass out wide for Patchell’s second try of the night – and his third conversion as the bonus point was secured. Already 16 points down, Edinburgh’s evening got even harder in the final five minutes of the first half as Viliame Mata was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and sent to the bin. Edinburgh fought to get back into the match early in the second half and looked to have done so as Burleigh’s break fed Blair Kinghorn, but the full-back was felled just five metres short of the line. It was a rare highlight in the second period, though, as the removal of Patchell – to be replaced by Dan Jones – meant the free-scoring first half was transformed into a scrappy second. And after a pointless 20 minutes Scarlets attacking threat was curtailed further, with Liam Williams forced off and being replaced by DTH van der Merwe. Try scorer Jones was then replaced by returning Wales international Rob Evans with eight minutes to go, but the change made little difference and Wayne Pivac was forced into another change in the closing minutes as Davies picked up a knock and was replaced by Lewis Rawlins. And with neither side finding either the spark or composure to muster another score, the second half ended as a stalemate, meaning a comfortable win for high-flying Scarlets. Guinness PRO12 Final 2017, 27th May, Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Ticket Information: Fans can still avail of an exclusive number of €35 tickets. Book via www.ticketmaster.ie. Further information: www.pro12rugby.com/final
