Play-off woe for Welsh duo
The Scarlets claimed a 38-23 victory over win the Blues at Parc y Scarlets, meaning both teams failed in their play-off bids.
Last Updated: 06/05/11 10:23pm
The Scarlets claimed a 38-23 victory over the Blues at Parc y Scarlets, meaning both teams failed in their bids to make the Magners League play-offs.
The Blues occupied the all-important fourth spot at the start of Friday evening, but the hosts leapfrogged them in the table with the bonus-point victory.
However, Ospreys' narrow 12-10 victory over Aironi in Italy meant they climbed to fourth as the Scarlets' slim title hopes were ended despite the win.
Centre Regan King played his final match for the Scarlets before he leaves to join Clermont Auvergne, while injuries meant the Blues were forced to play Jamie Roberts on the wing.
Honours were shared at the end of a dramatic first half with the sides locked together at 20-20 after a total of four tries.
The Scarlets raced into a 13-3 lead in the first quarter with by a try for prop Iestyn Thomas, who finished off a drive from a lineout.
That was after the Blues had been reduced to 14 men when lock Michael Paterson was yellow carded for a late challenge on fly-half Stephen Jones.
Response
But the Blues got back with a converted try from wing Chris Czekaj, who was sent over by Roberts, and a Dan Parks penalty.
And 13-13 became 20-20 as both sides scored converted tries within two minutes of each other.
First, Ben Morgan slipped a tackle to scramble over for the Scarlets before Dafydd Hewitt capitalised on some sloppy defending when he escaped from a double tackle.
Parks missed a drop-goal attempt at the end of the first half but made amends with a successful effort two minutes after the restart as the Blues edged ahead for the first time at 23-20.
But the visitors suffered a setback when number eight Xavier Rush was stretchered off the field following a clash of heads with Scarlets prop Rhys Thomas.
And after Parks missed a penalty, the Scarlets regained the lead when Scotland wing Sean Lamont went in on the left for an unconverted try.
It proved to be a double blow for the Blues as Martyn Williams was also sin-binned for a professional foul.
Rhys Priestland then kicked a penalty to take the Blues out of losing bonus-point territory and the Scarlets secured their bonus-point with Lamont's second try.
But delight over the victory was dampened by news that the Ospreys managed to come through their clash with Aironi.
