Bowen darted over for his side’s crucial fourth try of the night right on the final whistle as the Scarlets fought off a spirited second-half fight back from the Irish.

The home side, beaten in their last two matches, had led 20-3 at the interval and appeared firmly in command.

But Ireland wing Anthony Horgan bagged two superb individual scores after the break to provide some nervous final moments for the Llanelli faithful.

Both sides suffered withdrawals before kick-off with Llanelli’s influential number eight Scott Quinnell missing out because of a groin injury while Munster were without skipper Jim Williams, who had to return home because of a family illness.

Munster though started strongly and went into a third minute lead through makeshift goal kicker Rob Henderson.

The Scarlets however responded positively with Bowen levelling matters with a penalty of his own three minutes later.

However, when visiting number eight Stephen Keogh was sent to the sin-bin after a string of infringements by the visitors, Llanelli pulled clear with two well worked tries.

The first went to the outstanding home centre Matthew Watkins who sliced through on 29 minutes then wing Richard Rees finished off a move created by Watkins and with Bowen converting both Llanelli were comfortably ahead at the turnaround.

But it was a different story in the second period. Munster, with a bitterly cold wind at their backs, first hit back with a fine solo score from scrum-half Eoin Reddan before Horgan’s double strike set up a grandstand finish.

But it was Scarlets and Bowen who finished the stronger with the fly-half sealing the five points – and a rare double over Munster – with his late flurry.