FULL TIME: SCARLETS 27-32 SHARKS:
The Sharks somehow hold on at the last and kick it out. The Sharks might have felt they had it in the bag when they secured their bonus point but Scarlets came roaring back. In the end they couldn't find a way through the resolute Sharks who earn a rare away win.
Scarlets attack with advantage but cannot use it and they kick a penalty into the corner.
CONVERSION, SCARLETS, COSTELOW:
Costelow slots the kick.
TRY, SCARLETS, NICHOLAS, 27-32:
Nicholas is in at the corner and we will be in for a huge finish here.
TRY, SHARKS, KOK, 20-32:
It's that Masuku and Kok connection again and this time all the winger needs to do is catch and dot it.
The referee sets the scrum at a glacial pace and then wants them to pack down again.
The Sharks will have a scrum five out after they are stopped short and the ball is trapped in a ruck. The Sharks were going forward but Scarlets don't like the call.
Masuku needs to make a call on whether he can kick a goal here. he doesn't want the shot and kicks it to touch. The Sharks have another attacking lineout.
The Sharks paint the picture at scrumtime and get the penalty as Scarlets cannot clear. Masuku puts the kick down into the Scarlets 22.
The Sharks are dominant at the scrum but they get no reward as Adamson wants it reset.
The Sharks make successive errors at setpieces as they knock on at their own lineout, give away a free kick at the scrum and then knock on again as they gather their lineout. Scarlets have the scrum on halfway.
The Sharks ping a penalty kick deep into the Scarlets 22 and will want to be clinical on this trip into the red zone.
Scarlets let themselves down with a handling error after a great carry from Tuipulotu gets them going forward. The Sharks have a scrum close to halfway inside their half.
The referee stops play with a Sharks player down. Scarlets will have a scrum just inside the Sharks half.
CONVERSION, SHARKS, MASUKU, 20-27:
Masuku drills the kick over from out wide to give the Sharks another lift.
TRY, SHARKS, KOK, 20-25:
Masuku goes for a brave cross-field kick and its on for Kok who gathers steps and scores.
The Sharks win a crucial lineout steal and then a penalty but they opt to go to the lineout rather than accept the three for the lead.
CONVERSION, SCARLETS, COSTELOW, 20-20:
Costelow levels the match up.
TRY, SCARLETS, MATHIAS, 18-20:
The TMO thinks he sees a grounding and Scarlets have the try. Referee was slow to get around.
Scarlets power over the Sharks line but look like they have been held up.
A huge touchfinder from Fassi sends Scarlets backtracking into their own half to feed another lineout.
Fassi looks for a 50/22 but just misses it and Scarlets have the lineout inches outside their 22. Scarlets pull off a decent exit after a scrappy lineout. The Sharks have another lineout feed on halfway but their feed is not straight. Scarlets have a scrum and a chance to attack.
PENALTY, SHARKS, MASUKU, 13-20:
Masuku slots the goal.
The Sharks get isolated in attack but Costelow doesn't roll away and the Sharks have a penalty kick.
Mapimpi can't get to a cross kick but Scarlets remain stuck in their own 22.
Lewis gets across to slide into touch with the ball after a Sharks kick through. Sharks will have an attacking lineout five out.
The deep restart is taken in by Scarlets and eventually Davies gets his clearance away and clear of Etzebeth but the Sharks will have an attacking lineout feed.
HALF TIME: SCARLETS 13-17 SHARKS
The Sharks cough up a late possession when they seemed to have done enough but Scarlets have a crack at a long drop goal and miss. The Sharks take a four-point lead into the half but won't be remotely comfortable with that. Scarlets have been dangerous when they could create space to run. The Sharks found their feet again through scrum dominance and might play things tighter in the second 40.
CONVERSION, SHARKS, MASUKU, 13-17:
Masuku converts.
TRY, SHARKS, KOCH, 13-15:
Koch gets it down at last as the Sharks patiently batter away.
The Sharks get a 'free play' as they earn advantage at the scrum but they force the offload as they threaten the 22. The Sharks kick the penalty into touch inside the Scarlets 22.
Scarlets do well to get in onto the ball but they just knock it on as they rip it away from Mapimpi. The Sharks have a scrum on halfway.
The Sharks scrum responds and they win a penalty which allows them to take play back into the Scarlets half.
Scarlets keep getting the decisions and now get one of the cheapest scrum free kicks you will see. Scarlets put up a hoist and win the ball back but then knock on.
Scarlets get an advantage after a lineout and their exit doesn't go well so they come back for a penalty kick. Scarlets find a touch close to halfway with a conservative kick.
Fassi probes with a kick that rolls out close to the Scarlets 22. The Scarlets have the put in to the lineout.
Davies has to rush his kick and is charged down he then hacks it straight out. The Sharks have a lineout ten inside the Scarlets half.
Scarlets spill it as they try to carry away from their 22 off the scrum, but the Sharks then knock on and they give up another scrum feed to Scarlets.
The referee allows Scarlets to officiate the game again as they call maul and he agrees that they have held up Buthelezi.
CONVERSION, SCARLETS, COSTELOW, 13-10:
Costelow stays perfect off the tee.
TRY, SCARLETS, ELIAS, 11-10:
Elias finishes off fantastically well as Scarlets spark a counter off a poor kick from the Sharks that gave Nicholas time to run.
The Sharks are gifted another easy exit as they knock on in attack and then their scrum goes down to give up a penalty. The Sharks set up a lineout ten inside the Scarlets half.
The Sharks eventually get a good exit off the restart but have Scarlets unimaginative attack to thank with just a carry and a box kick before Williams boots it back and into touch just inside the Scarlets half.
PENALTY, SHARKS, MASUKU, 6-10:
Masuku slots the goal.
Scarlets can't find touch on the exit and get pinned back into their half as the Sharks carry it back at them.
PENALTY, SCARLETS, COSTELOW, 6-7:
Costelow goals the kick.
The Sharks tackler doesn't get out quickly enough for Adamson and Scarlets have another hometown penalty.
The referee calls for the Sharks to use it at the ruck and blows the Sharks up quickly. Interesting call and the standard has now been set. Scarlets have the scrum feed on the Sharks 22.
CONVERSION, SHARKS, MASUKU, 3-7:
Masuku converts the try.
TRY, SHARKS, KOK, 3-5:
The Sharks have pulled off a training ground move to perfection and Kok gets in at the corner. Some great passes made the try.
Etzebeth effects the charge down but it goes out just outside the Scarlets 22. Scarlets work their exit poorly off the lineout and five up another lineout with the Sharks to feed.
PENALTY, SCARLETS, COSTELOW, 3-0:
Costelow slots the kick with no fuss.
The Sharks' defence holds through ten phases before they finally shoot up offside. Scarlets cannot use the advantage and come back for a shot at goal.
KICK OFF: Scarlets on fire off the kick off as they charge down a kick and have possession in the Sharks' 22.
Scot Mike Adamson is the referee with Welsh Assistant referees Ben Breakspear and Dewi Phillips on duty while the referee's countryman David Sutherland is the TMO.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Vincent Tshituka, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Gerbrandt Grobler, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Francois Venter.
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Tomi Lewis, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ryan Conbeer.
Good evening and welcome to our coverage of the United Rugby Championship match between Scarlets and the Sharks from Parc y Scarlets.
