Bears rout hapless Scarlets
EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Bristol Bears underlined their title credentials as they rounded off their Pool B campaign with a 52-21 victory over Scarlets in an entertaining match at Parc y Scarlets.
Bristol, already qualified for the Round of 16 prior to the game, secured an all-important top-four finish with their win.
It was a good spectacle from the start as tries from Semi Radradra and Ioan Lloyd – set up by an exquisite behind-the-back pass from Chris Vui – were converted by Callum Sheedy for the visitors.
But Scarlets – playing in front of their fans for the first time in three months – were persistent and well organised, and Ryan Elias powered over to get one back.
Rhys Patchell’s boot was significantly more reliable than it had been in Round 3, and he added two penalties to the conversion to take his side in within one point at the break.
Scarlets got off to a good start in the second half, with Patchell kicking a 43rd-minute penalty, but it was a yellow card shown to Elias on 56 minutes that really turned the game.
A penalty try to Bristol followed, and although Johnny McNicholl crossed for Scarlets just before the hour, the visitors capitalised on the extra space, Harry Thacker jogging over on 62 minutes.
And even after Scarlets were back up to the full complement of players, the Bristol tries kept coming, with Piers O’Conor, Siva Naulago, Sheedy and a second from Radradra concluding the bonus-point win.
The scorers
For Scarlets
Tries: Elias, McNicholl
Con: Patchell
Pens: Patchell 3
For Bristol Bears
Tries: Radradra, Sheedy, Lloyd, Thacker, O’Conor, Naulago 2, Penalty try
Cons: Sheedy 5, penalty try does not require a conversion
Yellow card: Ryan Elias (Scarlets, 56)
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies (captain), 12 Scott Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Shaun Evans, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Morgan Jones, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Phil Price, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Josh Helps, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Ioan Lloyd, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Fitz Harding, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Chris Vui, 5 Joe Joyce (captain), 4 Ed Holmes, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Jake Woolmore.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 John Afoa, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Steven Luatua, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Piers O’Conor, 23 Siva Naulago.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Maxime Chalon (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Source: @ChampionsCup
