Connacht (13) 16
Try: McComish Con: Keatley Pens: Keatley 3
Scarlets (0) 10
Try: Williams Con: Newton Pen: Priestland

Scarlets centre Rob Higgitt is challenged by Ian Keatley of Connacht

Bottom side Connacht battled their way to a deserved Magners League win over Scarlets in Galway on Friday night.

Fly-half Ian Keatley kicked 11 points, including the conversion of Mike McComish's try, to drive Connacht to their first win in four league games.

The Scarlets were off the boil and trailed 13-0 at half-time.

But winger Lee Williams managed a consolation try, which replacement Daniel Newton coolly converted to give the Welsh club a losing bonus point.

Connacht had got off to an encouraging start with Keatley landing two penalties.

The Irish province had centre Keith Matthews sin-binned for a late tackle but they kept the Scarlets out of their 22 and began to force the issue up front.

When Scarlets lock Vernon Cooper was sent to the sin-bin, Connacht grabbed their opportunity off a powerful scrum.

Scrum-half Frank Murphy broke on the blindside, and the impressive Johnny O'Connor popped an inside pass to set up number eight McComish for a run to the line.

The Scarlets rallied in the third quarter, and with Connacht prop Wilkinson the third player to see yellow, Priestland hammered over the resulting kick.

Late on, Keatley thumped a long-range penalty over to steady the ship at 16-3.

Despite Williams' late score in the corner, Connacht stood firm for a much-needed success.

Connacht: Duffy, Nathan, Ta'auso, Matthews, Carr, Keatley, F. Murphy, Wilkinson, Cronin, Morris, McCarthy, Upton, Muldoon, O'Connor, McComish.
Replacements: Flavin for Cronin (73), Hagan for Morris (54), Browne for McCarthy (55), Swift for McComish (66). Not Used: O'Loughlin, Nikora, Bibo.

Scarlets: Evans, Stoddart, Lamont, Higgitt, Williams, Priestlend, Knoyle, I. Thomas, Owen, Manu, Cooper, Welch, Easterby, Pugh, Lyons.
Replacements: Maule for Higgitt (72), Newton for Priestlend (72), G. Davies for Knoyle (72), Phillips for Owen (72), Corsi for John (72), Shingler for Cooper (62), Turnbull for Easterby (62).

Att: 1,750

Referee: G Knox (Scotland)

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