Victory against a powerful Perpignan side was always going to be a tricky proposition, without the added problem of a flu bug in the Llanelli camp. Gareth Jenkins was unable to select Wayne Proctor and centre Salesi Finau.
The Scarlets started brightly with a quick drop goal by flyhalf Stephen Jones in the opening minute.
Llanelli held this lead until the tenth minute. A prolonged period of pressure lead to New Zealand wing Robbie MacDonald running over. Thierry Lacroix converted, and when he added a penalty a few minutes later the momentum was with the home side.
Perpignan kept Llanelli pinned back in their own 22 with some incisive attacking play. Scrumhalf Ludvick Lousou found the gap in a stretched Scarlets defence, scoring from 28 metres.
Farid Sid then added to the Perpignan tally with a try in the 35th minute, When Lacroix converted the French side went in with a 22-3 lead at half time.
Llanelli will have been disappointed with the score at half time, were it not for a couple of untimely handling errors, the Scarlets could have easily scored two tries. It was not to be Llanelli’s night.
Scott Quinnell came on to strengthen the Llanelli pack in the second half , but his presence alone was not enough stop a now rampant opposition. Lacroix sank his third penalty of the night, and then a forth extending the Perpignan lead to 28-3. Soon after Bellot, scored the fourth try for Perpignan. In the 75th minute the 42 point scoring sequence was completed when Bellot converted a try from Olivier Olibeau,
Quinnell’s preseverance paid off, and he ran over to give the Scarlets fans a consilatory try in the closing moments , which Jones converted for the final 42-10 score.
Perpignan:
Tries: Robbie MacDonald, Ludvick Lousou, Farid Sid, Benoit Bellot, Olivier Olibeau.
Conversions: Thierry Lacroix (2), Benoit Bellot (2).
Penalties: Thierry Lacroix (2), Benoit Bellot.
Llanelli:
Try: Scott Quinnell.
Conversion: Stephen Jones.
Drop-Goal: Stephen Jones.
Sequence
(Perpignan first) 0-3, 7-3, 10-3, 15-3, 22-3 (Half Time), 25-3, 28,3, 35-3, 42-3, 42-10
