Lloyd helps Cardiff edge Scarlets 21-15 in Welsh URC derby

Cardiff beat Scarlets 21-15 in Llanelli on Saturday to win the season's first Welsh United Rugby Championship derby. BBC Sport reported that Dan Thomas, Taine Basham and replacement hooker Evan Lloyd scored from attacking line-outs.

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Scarlets twice led during the first half. Dane Blacker's break and Sam Lousi's offload created Joe Roberts' try, before Blair Murray scored after being released by Eddie James. Cardiff answered through Thomas and Basham, taking a 14-12 advantage into the interval.

Joe Hawkins replaced Gareth Anscombe and kicked Scarlets back in front. The decisive change came after Murray's kick was ruled out on the full, giving Cardiff an attacking position from which Lloyd scored. Jarrod Evans added the conversion.

Evans subsequently missed a long-range penalty, leaving Scarlets within reach. James threatened again, but Lloyd's turnover ended the hosts' late attack. Basham was named player of the match as Cardiff held on for an away victory.

Evans' contribution followed a summer return that Cardiff had highlighted in their team announcement. The fly-half rejoined after three seasons at Harlequins, with his previous Cardiff appearance having come against Ospreys in 2023. The club named six capped Wales internationals among the replacements, including Evans, giving the visiting side considerable international experience to call upon from the bench.

The opening-round team also combined established partnerships with new arrivals. Summer recruits Scott Sio and Le Roux Malan were selected for their competitive debuts, with Sio joining captain Liam Belcher and former Scarlet Javan Sebastian in the front row. Malan partnered Ben Thomas in midfield, while Johan Mulder and Callum Sheedy continued together at half-back, according to Cardiff's official selection announcement.

The outcome continued a recent pattern in this fixture. Cardiff's official match records show that the away team won both league meetings last season: Scarlets prevailed 21-17 at Cardiff Arms Park, while Cardiff won 28-24 at Parc y Scarlets. Saturday's result gave the visitors another derby success on the same ground.