Having not played since the 45-26 loss to the selfsame Scarlets in Parma in mid-December, the Free Staters were up against it and their task was made all the more challenging by the injury-enforced absence of Springbok duo Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn.

The Scarlets managed to emerge with a 10-3 lead after a scrappy first half, but Hawies Fourie's men went ahead with a double strike after the break before the pendulum swung back in the hosts' favour late in the match.

The Cheetahs never gave up fighting, defending valiantly, counter-rucking vigorously and winning scraps at the breakdown to stay in the hunt, but the bluntness on attack that hampered them all evening and late handling errors in the rain left them unable to conjure up something special to snatch victory.

The hard-fought win saw the Scarlets solidify their place at the top of Pool B and leaves the Cheetahs, who started their campaign with a 21-16 away win over Section Paloise, among the mid-table sides who'll be in a desperate playoff scramble in the final round of the pool stage next weekend.

The Scarlets' first-half try came courtesy of some good vision and execution, Rhys Patchell grubbering into space in the left-hand corner for Steff Evans to snap up and score.

But the Cheetahs leveled the scores with a try from a driving maul shortly after the break, Louis van der Westhuizen flopping over before Siya Masuku made it all square with his conversion.

A strong surge by replacement flank Daniel Maartens put the Free Staters on the front foot from another lineout and Daniel Kasende streaked in like a hot knife through butter to put them in the lead for the first time in the 52nd minute.

It was short-lived as the Scarlets struck back immediately, brilliant hands by the backs seeing Johnny McNicholl finish in the corner for a seven-pointer to level the scores again.

With 16 minutes left on the clock, Halfpenny nudged the hosts back in front with a second penalty goal, Rudolph pinged for not rolling away, and it proved enough for the win as the home side held on.

JENNY-VAN-DYK

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