Tough times for the Scarlets as they remain winless in the United Rugby Championship this season following a 29-18 defeat against the Lions in Johannesburg. With a lengthy injury list keeping 13 players out and forcing them to bring in emergency replacements, the odds were stacked against Dwayne Peel’s team at Ellis Park.
The Lions took control with powerful play and claimed the victory with four tries from Quan Horn, Franco Marais, and a double from Morné Brandon. Scarlets fought hard but could only break through with a penalty try and a score from Joe Roberts, supplemented by Sam Costelow’s six points from the boot.
Despite a gutsy performance from players like Jarrod Taylor, whose turnovers kept hope alive in the first half, Scarlets couldn’t match the Lions’ dominance. With a chance to turn things around after a penalty try put them close on the scoreboard, any comeback dreams were dashed when Brandon grabbed his second try of the match for the Lions.
Standout moments included a thrilling grubber kick from Costelow that set Roberts up for a late score, but ultimately, the Scarlets left South Africa empty-handed yet again.
The team will need to regroup and strategize as they look ahead to breaking their losing streak. Keep cheering on our boys as they fight through this challenging season! 💪🏉 #Scarlets #URC #RugbyPassion