Blues secure Euro place
Jamie Roberts scored two tries as the Blues beat the Scarlets to confirm their place in the Heineken Cup next season.
Last Updated: 18/04/10 12:27pm
Jamie Roberts scored two tries as the Blues confirmed their place in the Heineken Cup next season with a convincing win over the Scarlets.
The home side, who leaked 24 unanswered points in the second half, will now have to hope the Blues win the Amlin Challenge Cup in order to gain entry into Europe's premier club competition.
Second-half tries from Taufa'au Filise, Roberts and Richie Rees killed off the Scarlets in emphatic fashion.
The Scarlets just edged an enthralling, high-tempo first period 16-15 despite trailing two tries to one.
Scarlets went ahead after 11 minutes when centre Regan King weaved his way over after appearing on the shoulder of Stephen Jones for the opening try.
But the home side's 7-0 advantage was wiped out in the space of five minutes, first by a Ben Blair penalty and then by a try for Jamie Roberts who was sent over in the left corner for a converted try from a neat pass out of the tackle from Casey Laulala.
However, a penalty goal and then a drop-goal from Stephen Jones gave the Scarlets a 13-10 advantage.
Stretched
The Blues probably thought they had the interval lead through a try for lock Deiniol Jones, who stretched for the line after another dash down the left by Roberts.
But from the restart hooker Gareth Williams was penalised for obstruction and Jones kicked his second penalty to give the Parc y Scarlets outfit a one-point half-time lead.
Two tries in seven minutes at the start of the second half finished off the Scarlets.
Prop Filise crashed over after just two minutes and and the Blues confirmed a bonus point when Roberts breezed in for his second try after Martyn Williams won ball on the floor and it was put through the hands, with Xavier Rush twice involved.
The match was definitely settled when scrum-half Rees went over for his side's fifth try on 58 minutes, to stretch the lead to 20 points, with Blair knocking over a penalty in the final minute.
