Scarlets 16-17 Bristol Bears: Pat Lam’s men hold firm for gritty opening win

Scarlets ………….. 16pts

Tries: G Davies 32 Conversions: Costelow 33 Penalties: Costelow 23, 49, 52

Bristol Bears ….. 17pts

Tries: Mata 2, 17; Rees-Zammit 54 Conversions: Worsley 6

Pat Lam‘s Bristol Bears slugged out a narrow victory across the border against Scarlets to get their latest European campaign up and running.

But lacklustre Bears had to work hard in this scrappy clash against a battling Scarlets outfit.

Bears led 12-10 at the break with big Bill Mata having a real Jekyll and Hyde opening 40 minutes.

Two tries and a sin-binning capped an eventful night for the Bristol forward.

Match action

The visitors poked their noses in front in the third minute. Centre Ben-hard Janse van Rensburg rampaged forward to put the hosts’ defence on red alert.

But they were not ready or able to cope with an even bigger force in the shape of Mata who used his power to surge across for the opening try converted by Sam Worsley.

Scarlets fans were left airing their frustration when Tom Rogers had a try ruled out – after he caught Kalaveti Ravouvou sleeping – for an earlier knock on in the build up.

It took ages for the TMO intervention with Sam Costelow already having converted the score before the off-field request to ask referee Gianluca Gnecchi to review it. He did so and the try was wiped off.

Buoyed by their let-off Bears roared down field and increased their lead. Ravouvou’s sublime offload fed fellow Fijian Mata to cruise across for his second try and the visitors had were very much in the ascendency.

There was a long break for Scarlets tighthead Archer Holz to be treated for injury. He was eventually carried off on a stretcher.

Costelow finally put the home side on the scoreboard with a penalty when Bears sinned at the breakdown.

Going close: Bristol Bears try scorer Louis Rees-Zammit

PICTURES: Alamy

Hero to villain

Mata went from hero to villain when he was shown a yellow card for causing a clash of heads with centre Johnny Williams.

Mitigating circumstances saved him from a potential red with Williams on the way down when struck by his Bristol rival.

Scarlets needed to take full advantage and did so within a few minutes as heavy pressure told.

Scrum-half Gareth Davies darted over from a few yards and Costelow’s conversion brought them to within two points.

The Welsh side were left stunned again when a second try – this time from full-back Jack Davies – was scrubbed off for a forward pass in the build up.

Again Costelow had taken his kick before the officials intervened and Bristol’s lead survived until half-time.

Second half

Bears had a try disallowed themselves when endless replays proved a pass had gone forward in the move which saw Ravouvou cross the line.

Costelow edged the hosts ahead with a penalty when Bears were pinged at the breakdown. He succeeded with a second kick when again the visitors were guilty at a ruck.

But Bears upped their intensity and a slick move saw Louis Rees-Zammit finish off by strolling across untouched.

Bears defence held firm to grab a crucial first win in Europe and will hope to use it as a base for a long campaign ahead.