Llanelli crush Stade hopes

Llanelli Scarlets 31 Stade Francais 17

Llanelli Scarlets registered their first Heineken Cup win in 12 outings to put pay to Stade Francais’ last hopes of progressing to the knockout stages at Parc y Scarlets.

The last time Scarlets were successful in Europe, they beat Munster in the 2006-2007 quarter-finals.

The victory was earned with two tries from centre Jon Davies and one for David Lyons, as well as four penalties by Stephen Jones.

Stade’s points came from two tries for wing Guillaume Bousses and one for Mirco Bergamasco.

The Scarlets raced into an impressive 13-0 lead in the opening nine minutes, set on their way by a fine converted try from number eight David Lyons.

Already out of Pool 4 contention with just a draw to their name from their previous four outings, the Scarlets were in positive mood as centre Regan King sent Lyons in from 10 metres out.

Stade began by taking a direct approach, taking the ball up the midfield channel, but they got no change out of the Scarlets defensive line.

And it was the Scarlets who went further ahead with two Stephen Jones penalties on nine and 14 minutes.

Stade, who were desperate for a win to keep their cup hopes alive, got themselves on the scoreboard on 16 minutes when Bousses went over in the left corner. The try was awarded after the intervention of the TV match official.

Despite losing Lyons to the blood-bin following a clash of heads with Stade outside-half Juan Hernandez and having to replace flanker Johnathan Edwards, the Scarlets continued to play a positive brand of rugby which was awarded with a third penalty for Jones on 32 minutes.

Stade’s chances of making inroads into the home side’s 16-5 interval lead were dealt a setback when Hernandez did not come out for the second half.

The French team got themselves into a good attacking position in the opening exchanges of the second half but failed to make it count as they gave away a penalty in the Scarlets 22.

The Scarlets lost a chance of a try at the other end when Regan King intercepted but prop Phil John was unable to squeeze in at the right corner.

But it mattered little to the Welsh as they scored a second try on 55 minutes for Jon Davies who ran in from 25 metres out after an exquisite inside pass from his fellow centre King.

The Scarlets extended their 21-5 lead to 24-5 with a fourth penalty goal for Jones from in front of the posts.

But a wayward pass from replacement hooker Ken Owens saw Bousses intercept and run in unopposed from halfway. However, the wing’s drop kick conversion attempt from right in front of the posts rebounded off the left upright.

A fine Scarlets performance was rounded off when Davies raced in from halfway for his side’s third try.

But Stade had the final say when wing Bergamasco went over in the right corner for his side’s third try.