It was an emotional start to the season for the Scarlets region as the Ray Gravell statue was unveiled in front of an appreciative crowd of family, friends and fans.

Inside Parc y Scarlets, a 6,075 crowd brought the stadium to life and witnessed an exciting Magners League opener.

Nigel Davies's strong XV emerged onto the park in their new all-Scarlet kit and looked ready for the battle.

New signing Richie Pugh soon showed natural ability and flair and, after some good phases, fellow summer recruit Sean Lamont made an excellent run and crossed to kick-start the campaign. Outside-half Rhys Priestland converted.

A brief kicking battle ensued, with neither side gaining ground or useful possession. However, wing Lamont showed his worth again with a try-saving tackle on much-capped Ireland wide man Shane Horgan.

Leinster returned to the Scarlets 22 and the home side stood firm until Jonathan Sexton slotted over a penalty kick for his side's first three points.

Leinster took the lead on 18 minutes when hugely experienced full-back Girvan Dempsey was given a clear run to the line. Sexton converted and added another penalty shortly afterwards. The Dubliners led 13-7.

With 22 minutes played, the Scarlets were on the back foot and phases weren't coming together. However, vice captain David Lyons gave the crowd a taste of things to come as he took a quick penalty and used his strength to make considerable ground into Leinster's half.

Just after the half-hour, Pugh received a yellow card for a professional foul. This was soon followed by a penalty goal for Sexton, giving Leinster a 16-7 advantage.

If losing one man didn't make life hard enough, the Scarlets were dealt another blow as the interval approached when new prop Rhys Thomas was binned after an indiscretion at a ruck.

With just 13 men on the park, the last moments of the first half were much more difficult than they should have been. However, those remaining defended their line bravely against dangerous-looking overlaps on both sides.

The tackling was phenomenal and even with a two-man overlap Leinster could not get their men over the line. The Scarlets managed to clear.

In first half overtime, Leinster prop Stan Wright was yellow carded for an off-the-ball charge on Lyons. This spurred on the Scarlets and great character was shown as Priestland stroked over a penalty on the stroke of half-time. The home side went in trailing 16-10.

Whatever coach Davies said in the dressing room, the Scarlets returned all guns blazing for the remaining 40 minutes. Lamont produced another try-saving tackle as Pugh and newly appointed player-coach Simon Easterby tackled well and gained good ground.

With the home fans becoming more vocal and on the edge of their seats, Dempsey almost repeated his first half try with a mirror-image dash only to be held up by the defence. He fed flanker Shane Jennings who crossed the line but was deemed by the TMO to have knocked on.

The Scarlets looked to be a different team now, with everyone looking for work and putting their bodies on the line.

With a quarter of the game remaining full-back Daniel Evans showed some flair by dancing through two tackles before kicking downfield for a chase by replacement wing Lee Williams. Unfortunately for the Wales Sevens star, the ball bounced unkindly and the chance was lost.

As the Scarlets began firing on all cylinders they attacked strongly. With 15 minutes left, a brilliant break by centre Jonathan Davies led to captain Mark Jones darting for the line only to pass back infield to replacement prop Phil John who looked overjoyed as he crossed. The conversion was missed but the Scarlets now trailed by only one point.

More good phases followed along and the home crowd's increasingly tuneful renditions of favourites such as Hymns and Arias.

With 12 minutes to go and with both teams aiming for a knockout score, Leinster replacement flanker Sean O'Brien was yellow carded then Dempsey was forced to retire injured.

The Scarlets applied pressure and found themselves yards from the visitors' line. With a three-man overlap a try was in the offing but the chance went begging. However, the home team won a penalty which was landed by Priestland to put the Scarlets 18-16 up.

Leinster fought back, not ready to give up - but the home side went through the phases and held out for an important, morale-boosting win.