The Scarlets went into the match battling it out with Newport Gwent Dragons for the final automatic qualification slot for Europe. With the Ospreys and Blues already through, the Scarlets now join them in next year’s competition to leave the Dragons facing a play-off with an Italian side to make it through.
The Scarlets entered the game on the back of a battering against Leinster. Nigel Davies’s side capitulated against the Irish side, conceding seven tries in a 45-8 bashing at the RDS while the Blues had the luxury of having already qualified for Europe with a 20-12 victory over Munster.
The home side had the better of the early exchanges and had the lethal boot of Ben Blair to thank as the Blues moved to a 6-0 lead inside 12 minutes. The Kiwi’s first success saw him surpass 350 points in the league in just his third season at the region.
While the Blues, with scrum half Richie Rees in commanding form, looking adventurous the Scarlets adopted a less courageous policy, relying on full-back Daniel Evans left foot to keep the visitors deep inside the Blues half.
The policy eventually paid off when Rhys Priestland sent over a penalty in the 21st minute when the Blues were penalised by referee James Jones. Five minutes later the Scarlets hit the lead for the first time in the match.
The ball was played swiftly down the left flank where rapid-fire passing by Priestland and Rob Higgitt gave part-time winger Lee Williams a sniff of a chance. Williams dived early and despite Ben White and Ree’s best efforts, he scored in the corner.
With three minutes of the first half remaining, the Blues were reduced to 14 men when flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor was sent to the sin bin for coming in from the side of a ruck after a rare attacking foray by the Scarlets. Priestland landed the resulting penalty to give the Scarlets an 11-6 lead at the interval.
Two minutes after the re-start the Scarlets had the best possible start. Williams received the ball inside his own half and in a mazy run beat five defenders to set up second row Dominic Day who flopped over the try-line to give the under-fire side a surprise 16-6 lead.
Blair cut the lead in the 54th minute with a short range penalty after Aussie No8 David Lyons was penalised for backchatting the ref.
With Scarlets confidence growing, the visitors took the game to the Blues and increased the lead in the 63rd minute. The Blues ran the ball but a massive hit by Jonathan Davies on Ceri Sweeney saw Williams scoop up the bouncing ball on halfway and he raced away for his second try of the match. With replacement Stephen Jones adding the conversion, the Scarlets had shot out to a comfortable 23-9 lead.
For the remainder of the match the Scarlets were happy to force the Blues back deep inside their own territory. It was left to Darren Daniel to seal victory and a place in next season’s Heineken Cup after the home side spilled the ball near the Scarlets try-line. The winger picked up the ball and sprinted the length of the field to score under the posts to give Jones an easy conversion.
