A fascinating fixture ended 26-26 at the Parc y Scarlets but both sides could have felt aggrieved not to have been celebrating a second successive pool win.
The game swung both ways in West Wales as the Scarlets again showed just how far they have come against a star-studded Top 14 outfit that included Wales flanker Dan Lydiate and Ireland outside-half Jonny Sexton.
Racing sped into an early 10-point led before the Scarlets hit back with 23 unanswered points, but it was the visitors who finished the stronger after their late resurgence. The French giants almost won it right at the death but the TMO ruled that Wenceslas Lauret’s touchdown should be ignored as a result of a knock on.
Having produced one of the shocks of the opening round in beating Harlequins in South West London a week ago, the Scarlets began with plenty of confidence and could have had a healthy lead had the usually reliable boot of Rhys Priestland not missed a brace of penalties and a drop goal inside the first five minutes.
Racing made the Wales fly-half pay as Lauret crossed for the opening try on seven minutes following a messy Scarlets scrum, with Lions star Sexton converting and adding a penalty to move his side 10 points clear with 13 minutes played.
Priestland finally got the hosts on the board five minutes later with a penalty and the Scarlets didn’t have to wait long to add to that tally. Priestland’s clearance kick bounced into the hands of Nick Reynolds with 20 minutes gone as the Scarlets turned good fortune into their first try. Reynolds flicked the ball to skipper Jonathan Davies and he in turn fed his centre partner Scott Williams for his second stunning score in seven days.
With the extras added, the scores were tied at 10-apiece but the rest of the half belonged to Simon Easterby’s side as two quick-fire yellow cards cost Racing dear. Captain Dimitri Szarzewski was the first to be sent to the sin bin with 34 minutes gone, with replacement Fabrice Estebenez following suit just three minutes later.
Priestland kicked a penalty to put the Scarlets 13-10 in front in between the cards and the region were celebrating even further when scrum-half Rhodri Williams took advantage of the extra men to slice through for a second try.
Again, Priestland did the business with the boot as he made amends for a disappointing start and the Scarlets held a 20-10 lead on the stroke of half time.
A third penalty from the playmaker extended the lead even further three minutes after the restart but Racing held firm despite their numerical disadvantage and that set the platform for another shift in momentum.
Sexton struck a penalty after 49 minutes before converting a Masi Matadigo try moments later and, when he hit another three pointer on the hour, the sides were level once more at 23-23.
Priestland had the Scarlets back in front with 64 minutes gone but Sexton tied things up again with 11 minutes left.
A frantic finale ensued but neither side could find a winning score, although it was the Scarlets who were holding their breath when Lauret threatened to rob them with the final play.
