Halfpenny penalty secures Scarlets’ Round of 16 berth

Steff Evans crossed the whitewash in the first period for the hosts, who went into the interval leading 10-3, before Johnny McNicholl dotted down in the second half to level proceedings at 17-17.

Toyota Cheetahs, who trailed at the break, did take the lead in the second half thanks to tries from Louis Westhuizen and Daniel Kapepula, but it was Halfpenny’s kick midway through the second period that decided the contest.

Halfpenny notched the first points of the evening, kicking a penalty on 10 minutes before a moment of brilliance from Scarlets’ Rhys Patchell.

The fly-half delivered a tantilising grubber kick through the Toyota Cheetahs defensive line and into the path of the onrushing Evans who scampered home for the score.

A Siya Masuku penalty for the visiting South Africans reduced the deficit to seven heading into the break – a late yellow card for Scarlets’ Carwyn Tuipulotu giving Toyota Cheetah an advantage early in the second half.

They duly delivered with two early tries. Firstly, Westhuizen went to work on the back of a Toyota Cheetahs’ rolling maul, breaking away to cross just three minutes after the interval.

Then, Kapepula breached the Scarlets ranks with a dazzling breakaway to give the visitors a 17-10 lead.

The Welsh region responded in kind, wing Johnny McNicholl crossing after some quick hands shifted the ball to the right flank.

Scarlets held on for a third straight win in Pool B and left Toyota Cheetahs with their knockout stage hopes hanging in the balance after just one win so far.

The South African side host Section Paloise in their final Pool B encounter, while Scarlets visit Aviron Bayonnais in their final pool match-up.