The Scarlets players showed their condolences to the Swansea Valley miners and their families wearing red armbands against their slate coloured away kit for Saturday evening's big battle against league champions Munster.

A third round clash in the RaboDirect Pro12 league, with Munster having won their last 11 encounters against the Scarlets and with a formidable home record of 12 consecutive wins to boot.

Munster put in a commanding performance in tricky conditions to claim their third win of the league season and taking their unbeaten run at home to 13.

And a very wet and blustery Musgrave Park gave no warm welcome to the visitors from West Wales and the players made heavy weather of their encounter with the strength and belief of the Munster side reaping final rewards.

A bright start saw the Scarlets secure a couple of good opportunities to score in the opening minutes. Johne Murphy had to show quick reactions to get back and dot down for a dropout after Rhodri Gomer-Davies had launched a kick chase in the opening seconds.

The Scarlets forced the early pace and an offside decision allowed Newton to kick them ahead.

However, the pressure and pace of the opening minutes allowed the visitors to put points on the board thanks to the accurate boot of Dan Newton with the wind giving him no favours. Scarlets 3 Munster 0 after 3 minutes.

Munster then came back to level the scores at 3-3 with an Ian Keatley penalty.

The first try of the game came soon after with the Munster backs showing sharp hands and Doug Howlett went over at 14 minutes with Keatley promptly adding the conversion. Another penalty for Munster followed putting the hosts in a strong position.

Dan Newton once again calmly added the Scarlets points with a penalty in the 17th minute with Keatley then adding another three after the Scarlets were penalised for offside.

The Scarlets gave away a penalty try then at 31 minutes for repeated infringements in the scrum. Munster 20 Scarlets 6.

The Scarlets were awarded a penalty just before half time with a big ask from the halfway line for one young Scarlet on his debut for the region. But there were no nerves and some serious boot from the former Scarlets Academy star, 19 year-old full-back Dale Ford who put in a monster kick to take the Scarlets to 9-20 at the break

The Scarlets had stayed in the game with plenty of effort but with limited ball wasn't offering their backs much attacking play and was increasingly becoming a dog fight between the forwards.

The Scarlets first half performance showed only 30% possession. They'd need to go up a gear and break the pressure from their opponents early in the second half to clinch some territory and impetus back from a Munster team with very solid conviction on their home soil.

Half time score: Scarlets 9 Munster 20.

Heavy rain meant for a testing second period. Newton added another well-timed penalty for Scarlets to put them back in contention, but Ian Keatley responded with a crucial score for Munster with a placed kick of his own, to give the Irish side a healthy lead with a quarter of the game to play.

Another massive penalty attempt from Ford at the half way line has the legs but just edged inches wide.

The Scarlets second half had plenty of trademark endeavour and spirit with some dogged defence that held the hosts from scoring to the obvious frustration of the Munster pack. But errors and giveaway ball from the Scarlets meant that Munster could and did eventually capitalise.

However the game became untouchable for the Scarlets when Williams ran in a 65th minute try after hooker Mike Sherry had peeled off the back of a maul. This was followed by an O'Donnell last minute touchdown to seal a score line which perhaps did not do true justice to the Scarlets effort or intensity of performance on the night.

Munster (20) 35 Tries: Howlett, Penalty Try, Williams, O'Donnell Cons: Keatley 3 Pens: Keatley 3
Scarlets (9) 12 Pens: Newton 3, Ford

Munster: Murphy, Howlett, Gleeson, Mafi, D Hurley, Keatley, Stringer, Horan, Sherry, Hayes, Foley, O'Driscoll, O'Mahony, Ronan, Coughlan.
Replacements: Deasy for Murphy (67), Zebo for Howlett (72), Williams for Stringer (60), du Preez for Horan (51), Fogarty for Sherry (76), Holland for Foley (46), O'Donnell for Ronan (65), Botha for Hayes (65).

Scarlets: Ford, L. Williams, Gomer-Davies, Maule, Fenby, Newton, Tipuna, I. Thomas, Myhill, R. Thomas, Reed, Day, McCusker, Turnbull, Morgan.
Replacements: L Rees for Fenby (72), G Davies for Tipuna (63), John for I Thomas (65), Phillips for Myhill (46), R. Jones for R. Thomas (65), Shingler for Day (55), J. Edwards for Turnbull (63).

The Scarlets will now get set for the big occasion back at home, as they celebrate a major landmark in their history. The Scarlets' 5000th match will be played at Parc y Scarlets against Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 league next Saturday 24th September 2011 kick off 6.30pm. A great day out not to be missed by all true Scarlets!