A second half comeback in Llanelli saw Cardiff under-18 claim maximum points as they maintained their 100 per cent record in the Regional Age Grade Championship on Wednesday.
Scarlets were in the driving seat at the break, following Cardiff’s error-strewn first half display.
But an early score in the second half from prop Ioan Emmanuel set the tone for the rest of the game as Chadd Mutyambizi's side proved too strong for their hosts, running away with a 26-17 victory.
They now head into the final round of action with all to play for, as they prepare to welcome an undefeated Dragons side to Cardiff Arms Park on Wednesday, February 16.
Jacob Symes got proceedings underway in Llanelli, however, with only two minutes on the clock, it was the home side who opened the scoring at Parc y Scarlets. Symes’ clearance from his own half was deflected by the rushing defenders, handing wing Iolo Griffiths a clear path to the whitewash.
Cardiff’s back three showed glimpses of their attacking threat with ball in-hand, but the hosts struck for a quick-fire second in Llanelli as they capitalised on the Blue and Blacks’ ill-discipline.
An innovative line-out saw Scarlets advance into the Cardiff 22. Moments later, number eight Will Plessis trucked up before freeing his hands to release captain Joe Rees, who ran in under the sticks.
Cardiff were compounding their errors at Parc y Scarlets, disrupting attacking opportunities and giving Scarlets crucial field position. A series of penalties saw the hosts in the corner once again, and with the drive set, it looked like Plessis had snuck his way over in the corner. However, the back row was penalised for double movement and his score was chalked off.
Cardiff turned to powerful centre Ethan Rudyj as they looked for some front-foot ball, with the youngster making a break in midfield. His work was followed by a clever kicking from scrum half Finn Charles, who pinned the hosts back, resulting in full back Harry Fuller kicking the ball out on the full.
A further penalty gave Cardiff their first real opportunity in the corner, with both Saul Hurley and Sam Harris going close. With numbers on the left, the ball was looped out wide but the final pass to Louis Rochefort-Shugar was deemed forward by the referee.
14-points separated the sides at the interval, and the undefeated visitors came out for the second half with a point to prove.
A powerful double tackle from Rhys Burleton and Harry Beddall allowed Hurley to win an early penalty, which injected some momentum into the Blue and Blacks.
Scarlets conceded another penalty for offside, which saw Cardiff advancing deep into enemy territory where they needed to come away with points.
A sharp snipe from Finn Charles saw the scrum half going close, but a couple of phases later the pressure eventually told as Player of the Match Emmanuel powered over to give his side their first score of the evening.
Symes converted but the seven-point difference was short-lived as Luke Davies replied with a penalty for Scarlets.
However, a moment of inspiration from full back Jac Davies brought the Blue and Blacks back into the contest. Receiving the ball out wide, 35 meters out, he cut back inside and carried hard into the Scarlets defence. The Glantaf pupil surged through the initial contact, and he had the pace to finish from deep.
Influential number eight Plessis was sent to the sin bin for the hosts, after straying offside and disrupting replacement scrum half Orson James, and Cardiff took full advantage.
The resulting penalty gave the Blue and Blacks an attacking opportunity on the 22 meter line, and they needed no second invitation to take the lead for the first time.
The returning Lucas de la Rua, who was named Player of the Match in the opening win over Ospreys, made the initial dent into the midfield. He found support from fellow back row Harry Beddall, who escaped the recovering defenders to dot down.
The momentum had firmly swung in the visitors’ favour, and Morgan Bowen’s chip behind put further pressure on the home side, forcing a knock on in midfield. Rudyj hacked through, and while outside half Davies recovered for Scarlets, he was penalised for holding on deep in his own half.
Cardiff opted for the scrum, and it paid off as de la Rua charged over for the bonus point score.
A combination of a stubborn defence, a solid set-piece and the boot of scrum half James kept the hosts at bay in the final moments.