The Scarlets were given a workout by the Chiefs who thoroughly deserved their half-time lead of 14-7, where converted tries by fullback Ben Breeze and Richie Baxter sent the home fans wild.

Darren Daniel’s try early on was the only bright note for the Scarlets in the first half. The Scarlets arrived late for the game and appeared to have their minds elsewhere in the opening 40 minutes. Loose passes and poor decision making littered the first half as the home side played above themselves.

The Scarlets provided an entirely different team in the second half but the home side continued to give a good account of themselves. Big hitting brothers Junior and Mark Fatialofa gave Jon Davies and Regan King plenty to think about in the heart of midfield as the home side sniffed the chance of an upset.

The greasy surface made handling difficult and as a result play became scrappy. Ex-Scarlet scrum half Clive Stuart-Smith poked and prodded around the fringes to keep the visitors’ back row honest and he left to a huge reception when he was replaced by Ian Wilson.

Gavin Evans was re-introduced to the fray to pep up the backs and it was his pass which put James Bater over unopposed 10 minutes from the final whistle. It summed up the Scarlets day when Ceiron Thomas missed the easy conversion.

With eight minutes to go the home side were clinging onto a 14-12 lead and sensing a huge upset and it looked even more likely when the Scarlets bungled a clear cut opportunity to take the lead when Stoddart ignored an unmarked Alec Jenkins two metres from the line and was hammered to the ground.

But with three minutes remaining on the clock, the Scarlets finally managed to put a few phases together to eventually see Phil John power over from close range to give Thomas an easy conversion.

Exeter
Tries: Breeze, Bater
Cons: Gray (2)

Scarlets
Tries: Daniel, Bater, John
Cons: Priestland, Thomas