Scarlets clinch superb win against 14-man Bulls

United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v Bulls

Scarlets (10) 23

Tries: Macleod, Murray, Rogers Cons: Lloyd Pens: Lloyd 2

Bulls (19) 22

Tries: Moodie, Burger, Arendse Cons: Chamberlain 2 Pens: Chamberlain

A late try from Wales wing Tom Rogers secured Scarlets a notable win against 14-man Bulls in a tense United Rugby Championship (URC) encounter in Llanelli.

Replacement hooker Grobbelaar was shown a red card in the 67th minute by Italian referee Federico Vedovelli for a high and dangerous tackle on opposite number Marnus van der Merwe.

Rogers then crossed after earlier tries from captain Josh Macleod and wing Blair Murray as Scarlets showed tremendous character to battle back from a 19-7 first-half deficit.

Bulls had dominated the opening half with tries through centre Canan Moodie, scrum-half Zak Burger and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, but slipped to their first league defeat of the season.

It was a second successive victory for Scarlets following their victory against Cardiff last weekend, although they also drew their opening game of the campaign at Benetton and lost by a single point at home against Connacht.

It was also a first home win for Dwayne Peel's side since March and a first victory in five attempts against South African opposition.

The win followed up their home victory against Bulls in January 2023 and Scarlets remain the only Welsh team to defeat this South African side.

More to follow.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Blair Murray; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Dan Davis, Efan Jones, Sam Costelow, Macs Page.

Bulls: Henry Immelman; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Boeta Chamberlain, Zak Burger; Jan-hendrik Wessels, Akker van der Merwe (capt), Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Kuyenzeka Xaba, Reinhardt Ludwig, Cameron Hanekom.

Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, JF van Heerden, Celimpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Chris Barend Smit, Stedman Gans

Red card: Grobbelaar (67)

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans & Nathan James (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)