A sizzling first-half display saw the Scarlets secure qualification for the knockout stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup with a six-try 38-28 victory over RC Vannes.
Led superbly by player of the match Josh Macleod, who crossed for two tries, the home side produced some dazzling all-court rugby to race into a 31-0 advantage just before the break.
Vannes battled back strongly in the second half, but it was already job done for the Scarlets, who must wait for Sunday’s round of fixtures to see if they will be home in April’s round of 16.
The win was also the Scarlets’ fifth in a row at Parc y Scarlets this season
Scarlets were up and running after just six minutes thanks to a clinical line-out drive that saw Macleod collect his seventh try of the season. Ioan Lloyd converted.
Eleven minutes later it was a case of ‘rinse and repeat’ for the home pack. Vannes were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, Lloyd kicked to the corner and the pack did the rest with Macleod jubilantly diving over for his second of the night – with no TMO needed for this one. Lloyd again added the extras to make it 14-0.
Then came a Blair Murray special for the third. Catching a clearance from 35 metres out on the left-hand touchline, the Wales international wing skinned the Vannes chaser before beating another defender on the outside then cutting inside to the line for a brilliant solo score. Lloyd pulled his conversion wide, but Scarlets led 19-0.
It got better quickly and the bonus point was safely in the bag on 33 minutes.
After Vannes winger Salesi Rayasi was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, a slick move from line-out ball saw Lloyd feed his half-back partner Gareth Davies on a free inside run to whitewash.
There was more to come before the break. With Vannes still down to 14, Scarlets took full advantage of the extra man out wide, putting Murray into space through some clever handling before Rogers weaved his way over in the corner to make it an emphatic 31-0 at half-time.
Great defence by Macleod held up a Vannes line-out at the start of the second half, but the men from Brittany did get their score when winger Romaric Camou twisted over in the corner for a try converted by fly-half Jean Cotarmanac’h.
But back came the Scarlets with a deserved score from short range from hooker Marnus van der Merwe, again converted by Lloyd.
With changes being made, including a return to the Parc for former Scarlets No. 8 Sione Kalamafoni, the home side were unable to keep their foot on the throat and it was Vannes who finished the game in the ascendancy.
Second row Matthieu Uhila dived over in the corner for his side’s second, full-back Sarano sliced through the defence for the third, then flanker Leon Boulier crossed in the final play of the match to earn his side a losing bonus point to give the vocal band of travelling fans who had made the trip across the Channel some consolation.
Scarlets must now wait for Sunday’s final round fixtures to discover who and where they will be playing in the knockout stages.
Scarlets – tries: J. Macleod (2), B. Murray, G Davies, T. Rogers, M. van der Merwe. Cons: I. Lloyd (4).
RC Vannes – tries: R. Camou, M. Uhila, P. Surano, L. Boulier. Cons: J. Cotarmanac’h, M. Lafage (3).
Scarlets: Tom Rogers (repl Ioan Nicholas 62); Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Blair Murray; Ioan Lloyd (repl Charlie Titcombe 70), Gareth Davies (repl Efan Jones 65); Alec Hepburn (repl Sam O’Connor 67), Marnus van der Merwe (repl Shaun Evans 57), Henry Thomas (repl Gabe Hawley 61), Max Douglas, Sam Lousi (repl Alex Craig 57), Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt; repl Jarrod Taylor 54), Taine Plumtree.
Referee: Aimee Barret-Theron (SA)
Att: 5,773