Impressive Scarlets clinch narrow win
The Scarlets claimed an impressive 16-13 Heineken Cup away victory against Castres Olympique to finish Pool One in second place.
Castres have only lost once at the Stade Pierre Antoine this season but went behind early courtesy of a Rhys Priestland penalty and a try from No.8 Matt Gilbert.
South African scrumhalf Rory Kockott clawed Castres back into the game with two quick penalties after the Scarlets were found guilty of infringements at the breakdown to make it 8-6 to the visitors at half-time.
The Scarlets lost Priestland with what looked like an ankle injury at the start of the second half after he twisted in a tackle and limped off the field before flank Aaron Shingler ran 80 metres for a superb interception try.
The hosts levelled the scores with a try by replacement Yannick Forestier, converted by Romain Teulet, to make it 13-13 but flyhalf Stephen Jones sealed the victory with a penalty in the dying moments.
The scorers:
For Castres:
Try: Forestier
Con: Teulet
Pens: Kockott 2
For Scarlets:
Tries: Gilbert, Shingler
Pens: Priestland, Jones
Castres Olympique: 15 Romain Teulet, 14 Romain Martial, 13 Paul Bonnefond, 12 Pierre-Manuel Garcia, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steve Malonga, 6 Jannie Bornman, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 4 Scott Murray, 3 Karena Wihongi, 2 Mathieu Bonello, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Yannick Forestier, 18 Michaël Coetzee, 19 Matthias Rolland, 20 Yannick Caballero, 21 Thierry Lacrampe, 22 Pierre Bernard, 23 Max Evans.
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Stephen Jones (captain), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Matt Gilbert, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Dominic Day 4 Lou Reed, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Iestyn Thomas, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Richie Pugh, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Gareth Maule, 23 Viliame Iongi.
Referee: JP Doyle
