Llanelli Scarlets bagged a bonus point inside 23 minutes at Stradey Park last night and without too many problems made it four victories in five starts this season to top the Magners League table.

And despite conceding a position of absolute strength late in the game, for ambitious director of coaching Phil Davies, it was the manner in which his rejuvenated Scarlets performed that was the most pleasing aspect of this, their fourth league sucess of the campaign.

The suggestion, as wild as it might seem, that the region is in danger of being wound up by Christmas due to the uncertainty over their planned move away from Stradey Park, has worked wonders in terms of galvanising matters on the field.

The side performed with real aplomb in disposing of Glasgow two weeks ago and followed up with away victories over the Newport Gwent Dragons and Connacht.

On top of that, the purpose with which they have played in the opening weeks of the campaign suggests that matters off the field have done little to undermine their domestic challenge and the departure of former director of rugby Gareth Jenkins to the role of national coach has passed without diluting the playing strength.

This, therefore, against a Leinster side still missing several of its leading contributors like Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy, was a contest which Davies expected to win. And within 74 seconds they assumed a lead that they would never relinquish.

Leinster flanker Simon Keogh inexplicably knocked on from the kick off and after the Scarlets had recycled the ball five times, with consummate ease, Dafydd James popped up on the right wing and dashed in at the corner.

A minute later, the Scarlets were rejoicing again after Leinster had turned over possession on halfway. The Welsh region, sensing a chance to stretch Leinster early on, broke down the right and Inoke Afeaki put the finishing touch to a 10-man handling movement that had the Irish province chasing the evening’s lengthening shadows.

Leinster’s response was immediate and had full-back Rob Kearney’s pass to Luke Fitzgerald not drifted forward, the young wing would have crossed unopposed. Unfortunately for the visitors, whose late arrival at the stadium caused a five-minute delay in the kick-off, not only did the chance go missing but Kearney tweaked his hamstring in the process of passing and was replaced by Gary Brown.

Moments later and following a sublime break from Regan King, the Scarlets were celebrating a third try — once again from James.

King’s slide-rule pass looked to have sent in Ceiron Thomas. The full-back was hauled back by Kieran Lewis, but had the presence of mind to feed James who duly dropped over for his second try.

Stephen Jones slotted a 20m penalty after James was tackled without the ball and, with Dwayne Peel and Jones prompting and probing around the base of a dominant pack, Leinster simply had no answer to the Scarlet rush. So it came as no surprise when the bonus point arrived on 23 minutes.

King, whose ability to provide has been key to the Scarlets since his arrival 18 months ago, found the boot on the other foot as Jones sent him in at the posts.