Clermont Auvergne dominate against Scarlets

Llanelli Scarlets 0 Clermont Auvergne 41

Llanelli Scarlets' Heineken Cup campaign ended in a humiliating Pool Five whitewash today as Clermont enjoyed a bonus-point victory at a shell-shocked Stradey Park.

The Scarlets, who this time last year were celebrating six straight pool wins, had no answer to Clermont's better all-round game which saw them score six tries, with Brock James claiming 16 points.

In driving rain and on a heavy pitch Clermont soon showed their intent with a forward rumble into the home 22 which saw the ball moved to hooker Mario Ledesma, who went over.

Scarlets conceded their second try when the Clermont forwards powered to the line following a line-out with lock Loic Jacquet emerging as the scorer as the French club led 12-0.

It did not get any better for the Scarlets after the interval as James collected 10 points in the space of four minutes.

First the outside-half planted a penalty goal and followed that up by converting his own try after latching onto the end of full-back Anthony Floch's kick ahead.

The home side's evening only went from bad to worse when Matthew Rees was sin-binned for a ruck offence and that opened the way for Floch to breeze in for the bonus point try on 57 minutes as Clermont led 29-0.

Eight minutes from time came Clermont's fifth try for man of the match Elvis Vermeulen.

Floch went in for his second try and Clermont's sixth during injury time.