Rugby Union: Bitter vintage for Scarlets in claret country
Begles-Bordeaux 48 Llanelli 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.LLANELLI LAST night tended to some battered bodies in Bordeaux as they reflected on another unsuccessful Welsh foray into French territory.
Fourteen times Welsh clubs have travelled hopefully across the Channel in the four seasons of the European Cup. Only Cardiff, with a 14-14 draw here at the Stade Andre Moga in 1995, have managed to avoid defeat.
The Scarlets had shipped 49 points against Stade Francais the previous week, but they could plead mitigating circumstances for taking another hammering. A bizarre succession of injuries among their backs during the first half hour - Nigel Davies, Stephen Jones and Wayne Proctor were all forced from the field - undermined some encouraging work done by the forwards.
Begles had lost three out of three in Pool A before yesterday and their lack of confidence was evident as they failed initially to punish Llanelli's disarray behind the scrum. But it was disarray in the scrum, leading to a snatched try in the 34th minute by scrum-half Guy Accoceberry, which kick-started Begles' effort.
Six more tries peppered the Llanelli line but, with the score at 31-3 after 52 minutes, Begles replaced their entire front row and, for a short time, Llanelli found some respite. The replacement lock Tony Copsey was held up as he drove for the line and a flowing threequarter move also ended just short of a try when a pass to another replacement Aled Thomas went to ground.
The lull in Begles' scoring was rudely ended with a burst of three tries in eight minutes. The game was up and a try in the 80th minute by Ian Boobyer was no consolation as Llanelli slipped to the bottom of this pool, knowing they need at least to win away to Leinster in three weeks if they are to join Stade Francais in the quarter-finals.
Begles: Tries Accoceberry, Martin 2, Brouzet 2, Dongieu Ntamack; Conversions Fauthoux 5, Penalty Fauthoux. Llanelli: Try I Boobyer; Conversion Rogers: Penalty: Rogers.
Begles-Bordeaux: J-M Souverbie; A Bouyssie, T Ossard (G Perais, 66), L Martin, C Schuwer (S Palmer, 52); P Fauthoux, G Accoceberry (B Andreu, 47); P Collazo (F Garcia, 52), L Delpech (M de Rougement, 52), O Sourgens, Y le Meur (D Gerard, 39-40; 66), O Brouzet (capt), C Dongieu, L Loppy, M Barrague (F Ntamack, 40).
Llanelli: D Rogers; W Proctor (A Thomas, 31), N Boobyer, N Davies (R Boobyer, 14), G Evans; S Jones (D Williams, 21), R Moon; P Booth, R McBryde (capt) (J Hyatt, 41), M Madden (S Gale, 78, V Cooper (T Copsey, 52), M Voyle, D Hodges, I Jones (I Boobyer, 70), C Wyatt.
Referee: G Hughes (England).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments