European Champions Cup Pool 4
Scarlets (24) 38
Tries: Macleod (2), Hughes, Plumtree, Hawkins Cons: Hawkins (2) Pen: Hawkins
Pau (26) 47
Tries: Butlin (2), Mondinat, Tuipulotu, Seneca, Attissogbe, Tokolahi Cons: Desperes (6)
Scarlets missed out on a first win in Pool 4 after an entertaining contest against French side Pau produced 12 tries in a see-saw battle in Llanelli.
In a contest that swung from one extreme to the other, Dwayne Peel’s side were left to rue defensive frailties and missed opportunities as another European night ended in frustration.
The Top 14 side stormed into the lead with four tries inside the first half an hour, with the West Wallians staring down the barrel of another sobering loss after demoralising derby URC defeats against Ospreys and Dragons.
Explosive wing Toshi Butlin twice went over in the opening period before fly-half Clement Mondinat’s effort put the visitors in a commanding position.
Former Scarlet Carywn Tuipulotu then bagged the bonus point against his former side in a breathtaking opening for the visitors as Peel’s side would be overawed and blown away by the team sitting second in the French league.
To their credit, heads did not drop and leading from the front, captain Josh Macleod twice crossed after benefiting from the hosts driving maul to drag Scarlets back into the contest.
Archie Hughes’ effort, after chasing down Tom Rogers well-placed kick, then reduced the scores back to within two points as the home side rallied into the break, with the French quickly losing discipline and would be down a man at the break with Nathan Decron binned for an infringement.
Scarlets continued where they left off in an astonishing turnaround with flanker Taine Plumtree and fly-half Joe Hawkins crossing after the break to stun the French side as an unlikely victory seemed to be on the cards.
But it would be Pau, who would bring on a fresh forward line off the bench, who would finish the stronger and carry the most energy and desire to turn the game on its head once more.
The French side showing their pedigree with three unanswered tries as Scarlets tired and were guilty of errors with prop Remi Seneca, full back Theo Attissogbe, and veteran Tongan Siate Tokolahi all going over to seal a comfortable victory.
The result now mean Scarlets must beat Northampton away next Sunday to keep alive slim hopes of finishing in the top four placings of the Pool.
If they remain fifth, however, above the Vodacom Bulls, who play Pau on Friday, they would have the consolation of dropping into the knockout phases of the Challenge Cup.
Scarlets XV:
15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Archie Hughes; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 8 Fletcher Anderson.
Replacements:
16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
