Scarlets thrash Pro14 newcomers Southern Kings

Scarlets have beaten South African side Southern Kings 57-10 in Pro14.

Leigh Halfpenny was key on his debut for the Scarlet, showing accuracy from the boot as well as creating and scoring a try.

Johnny McNicholl opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he received a pass from Halfpenny to cross in the corner but the Southern Kings responded immediately.

A superb chip from Kurt Coleman found Yaw Penxe to touch down and Coleman’s conversion put the Kings 7-5 ahead.

Scarlets’ lead was restored 10 minutes later through Halfpenny. Rhys Patchell’s pass found the full back in space out wide.

The teams traded penalty kicks before half time for Scarlets to take a 15-10 lead into the second half.

That lead was extended six minutes after the restart. McNicholl received the ball from a lineout and played in Patchell to cross between the posts.

Scarlets secured the bonus point four minutes later when Jake Ball crossed and number five came on the hour mark through replacement hooker Emyr Phillips.

The sixth and the seventh came in double-quick time as Scarlets’ dominance really began to show. Hadleigh Parkes went over after good work by David Bulbring and Jonathan Evans scored the seventh with seven minutes remaining.

Steff Evans completed the scoring in the 77th minute when he jinked through the defence and the Southern Kings nightmare start finally came to an end.