The 21-17 win extended the Scarlets’ remarkable winning run at the venue.
The veteran scrum-half crossed twice in the Welsh derby, marking a third consecutive appearance at Cardiff’s home ground in which the 35-year-old former Wales international has claimed a brace.
His contribution, alongside a well-taken try from centre Eddie James, ensured the Scarlets maintained their dominance in the capital – a sequence of wins stretching back to 2019.
Some players have favourite grounds, and some teams have bogey players. Add them both together and you keep coming up with the same outcome.
Just ask Davies about playing against Cardiff at the Arms Park.
For the third year in a row the former Wales and British & Irish Lions scrum half ran in two tries in the Welsh capital to extend the Scarlets winning streak in the ‘East v West’ derby.
His two second half tries once again tipped the scales in favour of the visitors as they took Cardiff’s ground record this season and picked up their second win of the URC campaign.
If it was against the odds as the Scarlets once again dug deep, and very much against the match statistics, it was in keeping with recent years results.
The Scarlets haven’t been beaten by Cardiff at the Arms Park for six years.
At a time when Welsh rugby is fixated and divided over who should exist and who should perish, it was a clear message when it comes to the business of who tends to win significant matches.
As well as being built on Davies’ try scoring prowess, the triumph was down to the doggedness of the visitors’ defensive effort.
Cardiff enjoyed 65% possession and 74% territory but couldn't crack Scarlets' defence as they posted 192 tackles to the home side’s 110.
"I enjoy a couple of tries at the Arms Park, I enjoy playing there. It was a good game of rugby, Cardiff threw everything at us and we weathered the storm,” said Davies.
“I thought we played well in the second half and deserved the win. Dwayne Peel spoke at half-time that we'd get rewarded for our defensive effort in the first half, and we saw it out in the end.
"Nobody thought we were going to come here and win, so we're happy with that."
Few in the crowd of 11,728 would have given the Scarlets any chance of winning when they went down to 13 men in the first half, with skipper Josh Macleod and Davies both seeing yellow, and then lost Johnny Williams for 10 minutes on the hour mark.
Talk about doing it the hard way!
It was a try from centre Eddie James that earned the Scarlets the lead when he romped over after the forwards had beaten their way to the try line and Joe Hawkins added the extras.
The two yellows gave Cardiff the chance to strike back and Mason Grady squeezed over in the left corner.
Callum Sheedy kicked the conversion and then landed a penalty with the last kick of an absorbing first half to give Cardiff a handy 10-7 interval lead.
A blindside raid from a ruck close to the left touchline saw Davies edge the Scarlets back in front in the 51st minute, Josh Adams replied three minutes later and then Davies picked off a trademark interception try from 60 metres out to take the lead again for his side in the 58th.
All three tries were converted and the Scarlets somehow managed to hold onto their advantage to the death to once again underline the boast of their raucous fans that ’west is best’.
In an absorbing and often frantic contest, Cardiff enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory but were left frustrated by their inability to convert pressure into points.
READ MORE: Cardiff Urged to Keep on Keeping on as Scarlets Come to Arms Park
Both teams arrived with altered line-ups. Cardiff captain Liam Belcher returned after recovering from a neck injury as part of six changes to the side that defeated Ulster, while Scarlets welcomed back Wales full-back Blair Murray after Peel had rotated his squad heavily for the previous heavy defeat away to Bordeaux-Bègles.
Cardiff set the tone early, asserting themselves physically and pinning Scarlets back in their own half.
Their intent was clear when flanker James Botham appeared to have opened the scoring, only for the try to be ruled out due to a knock-on in the build-up.
Scarlets rode their luck during that spell. Prop Henry Thomas was fortunate to escape a yellow card after conceding a penalty close to his own line, and moments later visiting captain Macleod was formally warned for the growing number of infringements by his side.
Yet, despite sustained pressure, Cardiff could not break through. Wave after wave of attack was repelled by a resolute Scarlets defence, which held firm and gradually shifted the momentum of the match.
With number eight Fletcher Anderson consistently punching holes and gaining hard metres, Scarlets began to show the value of clinical execution.
One incisive move was enough to create space out wide, allowing James to stroll over for the opening try, which Hawkins duly converted.
That score underlined the contrast between the two sides: Cardiff’s dominance without reward, and Scarlets’ ability to punish mistakes and take opportunities when they appeared.
As the derby unfolded, those qualities ultimately proved decisive, with Davies’ finishing touch sealing yet another memorable victory at the Arms Park.
