Llanelli defeat leaves Borders scarlet

Borders 10 Llanelli Scarlets 41

Borders surrendered their chance of a Heineken Cup quarter-final place as they were demolished by the Scarlets at Netherdale.

Llanelli – fresh from their triumph over Northampton – outclassed them in every department to pocket the all important bonus point.

The Scarlets settled quickest and pinned the Scots back in their danger zone with a series of multi-phased surges – but all too often they spoiled the good work by spilling the crucial final pass.

Llanelli broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a questionable penalty by Stephen Jones awarded against George Graham for a high tackle.

Jones repeated the dose less than two minutes later when Semo Sititi was offside at a ruck – then completed his treble.

Llanelli kept up the heavy pressure and eventually broke through thanks to a charge by Scott Quinnell.

Full-back Barry Davies still had five markers to beat from five metres out, but a combination of his own strength and the arriving forwards took him over.

Borders replied in positive fashion to keep their prospects alive with a brilliantly-worked try on the stroke of the interval.

Gregor Townsend started it with a raking penalty to touch – then finished in style following off-the-top lineout ball had given Llanelli the chance to suck in the defence.

Gareth Morton added the conversion from dead in front – only for Quinnell to snuff out the hosts with a trademark rolling maul touchdown just after the restart.

Jones slotted the extra points from a tricky angle – then traded penalties with Morton to keep his side in control.

Any chance of a Borders fightback was ended when scrum-half Dwayne Peel scuttled over under the crossbar after combining slickly with flanker Simon Easterby.

The rampant Scarlets claimed the vital bonus point as Garan Evans slithered over in the corner in the wake of more great work by Quinnell.

Davies rounded off the rout with a superb chip-and-chase effort to complete his double.