Rhys Priestland kicked Bath Rugby to victory on a wet and windy night at Parc y Scarlets.
The 48-cap Welshman did himself no disservice if he is hoping to spark a resurrection of his international career with an assured display as the visitors saw off the Pro12 champions, 18-13.
Bath had a 12-10 lead at half-time thanks to the superb kicking of the fly-half.
By then he had nailed four penalties, including two long-rangers which would have been tough on a windless day, and his clearances were also top quality.
The Scarlets’ 28th minute try was a thing of beauty, although the visitors probably should have thwarted it.
Attacking from deep in their half, flanker Will Boyde and number eight Tadhg Beirne showed handling and vision to send Steff Evans away via Rhys Patchell.
The dangerous winger cut inside Semesa Rokoduguni and found scrum-half Gareth Davies in support.
He sprinted towards the tryline but was reeled in by Anthony Watson, who took him to ground. Davies had the quick-thinking to pop the ball up to Evans, who slid over the tryline.
Leigh Halfpenny added the conversion to go with his earlier penalty.
There were no tries in the second half but Bath didn’t mind at all.
They won the kicking battle, had an effective one-out carrying game and their better discipline meant Priestland could put them 18-10 up with two more penalties.
After Bath foolishly tried to run the ball from deep and Anthony Watson knocked on, Halfpenny secured the losing bonus point from the tee.
However, the normally free-flowing hosts didn’t look like scoring the converted try they needed to snatch a win.
Bath: Watson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Clark, Brew (Banahan 64); Priestland, Fotuali’i; Obano (Catt 50), Dunn (Walker 65), Perenise (Andrews 56), Ewels (c), Charteris (Stooke 67), Z Mercer (Grant 64), Underhill, Faletau
Subs not used: Allinson, Lewis
Scarlets: Halfpenny; McNicholl, J Davies, Parkes, S Evans; Patchell, G Davies; W Jones, Owens (c), Lee, Ball, Rawlins, Shingler, Boyde, Beirne
Subs: Elias, D Evans, Kruger, Bulbring, Macleod, J Evans, Asquith, Williams
Here's the build-up, action and reaction to the win in our live blog...
Key Events
Blackadder on Priestland for Wales...
Todd Blackadder was asked whether he thought Priestland was back in line for a Wales call-up. His answer was pretty honest...
I hope not. We don’t want to be losing him, but it’s up to Warren Gatland and his team. Rhys is doing everything he can. What he can control is his performance and he’s performing really well. He’s grown this year. He’s been really different. I think the game plan really suits Rhys and he’s stepped up as a leader. He looks so much more comfortable and it’s really exciting to see a guy who’s played a lot of rugby - and at international level - still developing. He seems to be really enjoying his rugby.
Wayne Pivac is in the press room...
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac is fielding questions in the press room.
We couldn’t argue on the day. They were probably the better side. Tactically they played very well, but it was more our mistakes really and Rhys Priestland kicked really, really well. I think he deserved his man of the match and played very well in the conditions. We expected to go out there and play better than we did, but we didn’t.
And the players watching at home...
The club skipper was impressed by the win in his absence...
Other happy team-mates...
Stick around
Stick around for some post-match reaction from a smiling Todd Blackadder and the man of the moment, Mr Priestland.
Bath played the conditions
It was slippery, it was windy, but Bath played those conditions better than their hosts.
They made fewer mistakes, they kicked better from hand and they edged it enough up front to get the calls from Poite when they needed them.
The players and coaches will be very happy with that. It keeps them top of Pool 5 and puts Scarlets in real trouble.
IT'S ALL OVER!
Bath’s defence is staying disciplined and won’t give up. They force a knock-on and Poite blows his whistle!
FINAL SCORE: Scarlets 13 Bath Rugby 18
PENALTY MISS!
Bath win a penalty at scrum time. It’s on half-way and central. Priestland knows he can eat up a minute of time so he’s going to have a go.
The wind means it’s too far. Scarlets have one last attack, from deep!
If only he'd looked out wide!
Scarlets win a turnover and they’re attacking left and right, looking for an opening. They’ve manufactured a mismatch down the left with five players against Stooke and Grant with Rokoduguni further back.
Evans tries to go it alone and his backhanded offload is spilled. Two minutes left!
Bath keeping it tight
Bath have the ball in the Scarlets half. They’re sticking to one-out rugby as they should. Less than four minutes left...
PENALTY SCARLETS! Back in the game?
Scarlets set up the maul and peel left. The crowd on the far side go up and the touch judge has spotted something.
It looks like an arm round the neck from a Bath player but it’s only a penalty.
Halfpenny slots it.
Scarlets 13 Bath 18, 74mins
Brain fade from Bath...
Oh dear. Bath are 18-10 up and they try to run it from deep in their half. Joseph to Watson and the ball is down.
The eventual net loss is a penalty to Scarlets and a lineout 20m from the Bath line.
PENALTY BATH! Priestland again
Priestland sends the ball between the posts. It was never going anywhere else.
Scarlets 10 Bath 18, 69mins
Bath turn up the heat
Bath catch and drive from a lineout and Scarlets are forced to collapse the maul, giving Priestland the chance to make this a two-score game.
Another change
Walker is on for Dunn as Bath prepare for a scrum on half way. Stooke is on for Charteris shortly afterwards.
Double sub for Bath
Banahan is on for Brew and Grant is on for Mercer. 16 minutes to play and Bath still lead 15-10.
Brew in trouble?
Brew chases a kick and takes McNicholl out in the air. The TMO is having a look. No action other than a penalty.
Into the final quarter
We’re into the final quarter. The last five minutes have been a kicking battle and Bath still look pretty comfortable.
If Fotuali’i and Priestland can manage this an excellent win is on the cards.
PENALTY BATH! Priestland makes it five...
It’s close to the posts and over. Five from five for Priestland, who may well end up man of the match. Andrews replaces Perenise.
Scarlets 10 Bath 15, 56mins.
Kick to nothing
Bath go close though Mercer and Faletau. With a penalty pending Priestland sends a grubber into the deadball area for Rokoduguni but Halfpenny gathers well.
A chance for Bath...
Bath are getting most of the decisions and a breakdown penalty comes their way. Priestland kicks for the corner - they’re into the wind this half - and Bath smell blood...
150 for Catt
Nathan Catt is on for Beno Obano to make his 150th first-team appearance for Bath. 50mins gone.
TRY BATH? No...
Priestland charges down a kick and chases the ball. It won’t bounce up for him so he dives on it 5m short of the tryline and slides over.
The TMO is being consulted. NO TRY. In slow motion it looks like he lost control of the ball before grounding it. In normal speed it looked fine. Scarlets escape!
Errors
Bath have made several errors this half. A knock-on, missed kick to touch and Joseph getting held up in contact to concede a scrum.
Solid scrums
Two solid scrums to start the second half. Their first of the game seems to have been an anomaly.
Whisper it quietly, but the rain has stopped!
We're back on!
We’re back on at Parc y Scarlets. Bath are unchanged and now playing into the wind. They’re under early pressure after a rare knock-on from Watson.
