Evan Lloyd seals Cardiff’s 21-15 Welsh derby win at Scarlets

Cardiff beat Scarlets 21-15 in Llanelli to win the first Welsh derby of the United Rugby Championship season, with replacement hooker Evan Lloyd scoring the decisive try. According to BBC Sport's match report, all three Cardiff tries came from attacking line-outs, giving the visitors victory despite Scarlets leading in both halves.

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Dan Thomas and Taine Basham scored Cardiff's first-half tries, while Joe Roberts and Blair Murray crossed for the hosts. Basham was named player of the match. The result also denied Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias a winning celebration on his 200th appearance for the region, with 7,073 spectators attending the match.

Scarlets opened the scoring after scrum-half Dane Blacker broke through and Sam Lousi supplied the offload that sent Roberts over. Thomas answered from a driving maul, but the home side regained the initiative when Eddie James created an opening for Murray. The full-back's finish gave Scarlets their second try before Basham's response helped Cardiff take a 14-12 advantage into half-time.

The hosts went back in front after the interval through Joe Hawkins, who replaced Gareth Anscombe early in the second half and kicked a penalty. Anscombe was making his competitive debut for Scarlets. Cardiff also changed their fly-half, introducing Jarrod Evans, back at the club from Harlequins, as part of a group of replacements that included Wales flanker James Botham.

A kicking decision then helped swing the match towards Cardiff. Murray appeared to have put Scarlets in a promising attacking position, but his kick was ruled out on the full after hitting the touchline. Referee Adam Jones consulted the television match official, and Cardiff instead gained the territory from which Lloyd scored their third try.

Evans converted to put Cardiff six points ahead, although a missed long-range penalty left Scarlets within one converted try of taking the lead. James threatened again with another break, but Lloyd followed his scoring contribution with an important turnover that stopped the home attack and helped secure the visitors' win. Scarlets finished the second half with only Hawkins' penalty to show on the scoreboard.