Their 35-25 bonus-point victory enabled them to win the pool and move into the knock-out phase to cap a great weekend for the Welsh sides. The Ospreys became the first team to beat London Irish in the tournament at the Madejski Stadium and the Dragons beat Bedford Blues.
Billy McBryde was the inspiration behind a stirring comeback for the Scarlets. The Wales Under 20 outside half came on after only 10 minutes for the injured Ryan Conbeer and his 20 point haul was ultimately the difference between the two sides.
Nottingham came into the game with a chance of reaching the last eight and took an early lead when full-back James Stephenson ran in an eighth minute try which Lawrence Rayner converted. Richard Smith replied with the first of the home tries, but two penalties from Rayner gave the visitors a useful lead at a time when they were without Stephenson, who was sent to the sin-bin.
Flanker Josh MaCleod scored shortly before half-time for the Scarlets, but sin-bins for Tom Phillips and Nicky Thomas allowed Shane Buckley to score again for Nottingham and give them a 20-12 half-time lead.
McBryde had been sacrificed to cover for the sin-binned forwards, but his return to the field sparked a Scarlets comeback. The 20-year-old scored three penalties and a converted try in a blistering 20 minute spell to turn the game on its head and give the Scarlets a 28-20 advantage.
A 60 metre run in from skipper Morgan Allen made the game safe for the home team. Stephenson added a second try, but it was never going to be enough to deny the Scarlets the victory and the ticket into the last eight.
The Ospreys brought to an end an 18 match winning streak by English Championship leaders London Irish with an amazing performance in Reading. The Exiles ere coasting at 24-7 at the break, but outside half Luke Price had other ideas.
The Ospreys No 10 led an amazing fightback as he created tries for Wales Under 20 centre Kieran Williams and Joe Thomas (two) as the visitors held the Irish to nil in the second half and plundered 19 points themselves. Price converted two of the three second half tries having added the extras to a first minute try from Phil Price.
It was the third win of the campaign for the Ospreys, while the Dragons came up with their second win as they beat Bedford Blues 15-12 at a game switched to the all-weather surface at Ystrad Mynach.
The Dragons made the perfect start after the pre-match disruption, Wales Under 20 squad hooker Ellis Shipp scoring an early try to give them a 5-0 lead. A penalty from Arwel Robson, also in the Wales Under 20 squad, extended the lead before wing Pat Tapley ran in a great solo try to cut the gap to 8-5 at half time.
Bedford took the lead early in the second half after Dean Adamson finished off a well-worked team move, but the visitors’ lead lasted barely three minutes before flanker James Thomas went over to restore the advantage to the home side. Robson’s conversion took the score to 15-12, and the Dragons rode out a tight final quarter to win the game.
The Cardiff Blues game at London Scottish was called off because of a frozen pitch.
