EDINBURGH may have come into the game with half an eye on next week's European Challenge Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle but, in conceding a bonus point within half an hour, they certainly weren't focusing on this one.
It meant a six-match losing streak they will be very keen to bring to an end next weekend, but they will certainly have to perform an awful lot better if they are to succeed.
They managed to shore things up in the second half, putting in a much more determined defensive display to prevent the Scarlets adding to their first-half score but, with the bonus point already secured, the incentive for the home side to push harder was limited.
With nine internationals returning to the fold, Edinburgh had picked a strong side. Captain Johnny Barclay on the Scarlets bench made it a double figure of Scotland players, though he did not get on the pitch.
There were also armed police outside the ground, understandable following the terrorist event on London but still not a regular sight in West Wales.
However, Edinburgh started as they went on – badly.
The writing was on the wall from the first try, a soft defensive effort that gave Scarlets outside half Rhys Patchell a 40-yard run almost unopposed to the try line.
Opposite number Duncan Weir got a penalty for the visitors, whose forwards then flexed their muscles to push prop Wyn Jones over from a lineout drive.
Edinburgh may have had an Olympic Sevens gold medallist in their line-up, but it was silver medallist James Davies who scored for the Scarlets as he was put into space by a Patchell pass.
A good first half for the home No.10 was rounded off when he scored his second try after centre Jonathan Davies had reclaimed the ball from a kick under the posts. Patchell also added three conversions to stretch the gap.
The only consolation for Edinburgh in a scrappy first half was a fortunate one, hooker Ross Ford charging down the defensive kick from home scrum-half Aled Davies, prop Alan Dell regathering the ball and giving a good pass to put centre Phil Burleigh in for the try, converted by Weir.
Things were not made any easier when back rower Viliame Mata was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, fellow flanker James Ritchie also leaving the field injured.
Edinburgh did create the best chance of the second half, Burleigh breaking clear from his own half and putting full-back Blair Kinghorn free for a run to the line.
However he was hauled down just short by Scarlets wing Steff Evans and it ended with a penalty to the home team.
It remained scoreless throughout the second half, some small consolation for Edinburgh. They will certainly need to draw on that second-half solidity rather than the first-half generosity if they are to make any impression next week.
Scarlets J McNicholl, L Williams (van der Merwe 59), J Davies, H Parkes (Capt), S Evans, R Patchell (D Jones 50), A Davies (G Davies 47), W Jones (R Evans 71), R Elias (E Phillips 59), S Lee (W Kruger 62), T Price, T Beirne, A Shingler, J Davies (L Rawlins 73), W Boyde.
Edinburgh B Kinghorn; D Hoyland, C Dean, P Burleigh, T Brown; D Weir, S Hidalgo-Clyne (N Fowles 60); A Dell (M McCallum 55), R Ford (Capt, S McInally 55), S Berghan (K Bryce 73), A Bresler (G Gilchrist 55), B Toolis, V Mata, J Ritchie (V Fihaki 36), C Du Preez.
Referee J Lacey (IRFU).
Attendance 6,637.
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