PEEL LEFT TO RUE DECISIONS AS LRZ DENIES SCARLETS

LOUIS Rees-Zammit try condemned the Scarlets to an agonising 17-16 defeat to Bristol Bears in the opening round of the Champions Cup in Llanelli.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

Scarlets winger Ellis Mee is tackled by Louis Rees-Zammit

(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

Tries from Viliame Mata (twice) and Louis Rees-Zammit along with seven points from the boot of player of the match Sam Worsley was enough to get Bristol over the line in west Wales. Gareth Davies scored the Scarlets’ only try but they had a further two disallowed while Sam Costelow kicked seven points.

Dwayne Peel will be a frustrated man because the Scarlets had ample opportunities to win this game after overturning an early 12-point deficit but they couldn’t nail some key moments.

In the end a try from Wales star Rees-Zammit on 54 minutes proved to be the match winner.

Bristol started like a house on fire with Ellis Genge winning a scrum penalty. The visitors went to the corner with Benhard Janse van Rensburg getting over the gainline off the lineout before Mata hit a strong angle to score with Worsley adding the extras.

‘The Scarlets snapped into life with a wonderful cross-kick by Sam Costelow finding Ellis Mee in space. Mee raced into the Bristol 22 before another cross-kick by Costelow found Tom Rogers unmarked who touched down.

But the try was disallowed after the TMO spotted a knock-on in the buildup.

‘They were soon made to pay for a second time as Genge won yet another scrum penalty which Worsley drilled into the corner to give Bristol an attacking lineout.

‘The Bears went through the phases and eventually found Kalaveti Ravouvou out wide who burst through Rogers’ tackle before offloading to Mata for his second try.