Scarlets powered their way to the top of Conference B with a ruthless eight-try victory over Zebre in west Wales.

Brad Mooar’s side were in determined mood all afternoon at Parc y Scarlets and grabbed the bonus point by half-time thanks to scores for Kieran Hardy (2), Ryan Conbeer and Josh Macleod.

Zebre got a try before the interval through Marco Manfredi but after the break Taylor Davies, Johnny McNicholl (2) and Josh Helps ensured Scarlets go into the break top of the pile.

Key moments

Scarlets went into this one two from two but without scoring a bonus point, and right from the off the four-try boundary looked likely to be breached.

It took just 90 seconds for the opening score as wing Steff Evans broke through midfield and fed back inside for the first of Hardy’s tries.

Dan Jones kicked the conversion and where the first score was backs-based the second was most definitely forwards, as Macleod powered in amid a powerful catch-and-drive.

Michelangelo Biondelli kicked a penalty before Conbeer struck back with Scarlets’ third, but then Zebre were right back in it as young hooker Manfredi bulldozed over.

There was still time for Hardy to grab his second on 28 minutes to build a 26-10 half-time lead, and after the break it didn’t take long for hooker Davies to grab a try on Championship debut.

Jones once again reliably converted before skipper Hughes chipped through on 50 minutes – allowing full-back McNicholl to secure the sixth.

Zebre kept putting pressure on and almost had their second on the hour-mark only to see it chalked off for a penalty the other way, with Scarlets grabbing their seventh through Helps and a superb catch out wide for No.8 – that man again McNicholl.

Man of the Match

New Zealand-born full-back McNicholl and captain Hughes pushed him close, but Hardy takes man of the match due to being at the centre of a scything attacking display.

Hardy got things rolling with a great support line for his try on two minutes and wrapped up the bonus before the half-hour – the 23-year-old No.9 is taking his chance in the team well.

Play of the day

We could have picked one of two here – in the first half with outside centre Hughes gently grubbering through for Conbeer, but then improving on that effort in the second period.

Same situation with Scarlets attacking in the 22, this time Hughes producing a delightful lofted dink for McNicholl to catch mid-dive under the posts.

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