The match was in the balance until two minutes from full time when the home captain James Scaysbrook plunged over for the match-winning try in what was an absorbing encounter.
The Scarlets battled back from being 17-3 behind to level the score 20-20 early in the second half but the home side held their nerve to edge back in front via fly half Gareth Steenson’s boot before Scaysbrook sealed the deal with his late touchdown.
The Chiefs burst out of the blocks to score their first try in the fourth minute in a move straight from the training ground. From a lineout on halfway, scum half Haydn Thomas feed on-rushing winger Jack Nowell who sped through the first line of defence. He then drew last line of defence Liam Williams before off-loading to inside centre Ian Whitten who ran unopposed to the tryline. Steenson added the conversion.
Three minutes later Williams was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle which gave Steenson the opportunity to extend the Chiefs lead – from close range he never looked like missing.
The Scarlets then made life difficult for themselves when George North, returning from injury, ran the ball out from near his own try-line. He was well marshalled by the home defence but he managed to set up a ruck however fly half Aled Thomas had his relieving kick charged down and hooker Simon Alcott was on hand to pick up the pieces. Steenson’s conversion took the Chiefs to a commanding 17-3 lead.
Thomas pegged back three more points after Scaysbrook was penalised before the Scarlets hit back emphatically.
Thomas made the initial break before passing to North who set up the ruck. Thomas then worked the ball to the impressive Ken Owens who waltzed through Scaysbrook’s attempted tackle to pound the ball over the try-line. Thomas’s conversion brought the Scarlets to within four points but collapsing a lineout on the stroke of halftime cost the visitors another three points as Steenson knocked over the penalty to give Exter a 20-13 lead at the break.
The Scarlets comeback story was nearly complete just two minutes after the re-start when Scott Williams dived over in the corner after an excellent break from North. Thomas nailed the side-line conversion to level the scores at 20-20.
The Scarlets wide game was causing the Chiefs major problems but the home side managed to repel everything the Welsh side threw at them.
Exeter hit back and only strong defence denied powerhouse centre Sireli Naqelevuki from scoring under the posts when he was prevented from grounding the ball. The Chiefs continued to pound away at the Scarlets tryline, but after 13 phases when they were never more than 10m away from the try-line, it all came to nothing when James Hanks spilled the ball.
Owens departed to be replaced by Matthew Rees and after a series of scrum close to the posts, Rees was penalised for taking his head out of the scrum which gifted Steenson three points to put his side back in front.
With the game on a knife edge, it was the home side’s captain who had the final say as Scaysbrook ensured the Scarlets are still yet to win a game in this season’s Heineken Cup.
