With everything to play for heading into the final game round of the Magners League, the Scarlets had to beat the Blues at Parc y Scarlets and hope that Aironi could defeat the Ospreys if they were to make the play offs and for the Blues, a win would see them finish in the top 4.
First Half
Llanelli were very impressive in the opening stages of the all Welsh clash and they thought they had taken an early lead when Iestyn Thomas touched down after some good work by the departing Regan King, however, Blues' number 15 Dan Fish dragged Thomas into touch metres from the try line.
The home side did take the lead though when Stephen Jones scored a penalty in the 5th minute after Hewitt was caught offside in a tackle. (Scarlets 3-0 Blues)
The game was becoming increasingly fierce with both sides making strong challenges and after 7 minutes when Blues' number 13 Laulala was warned by referee Nigel Owens for shoulder charging Stephen Jones.
Moments later the Blues hit back with a penalty from Dan Parks to level the scores after 10 minutes of intense play at Parc y Scarlets. (Scarlets 3-3 Blues)
Llanelli regained the lead on the 13th minute mark through a penalty from Stephen Jones when Casey Laulala was late to tackle the Scarlets' number 10. (Scarlets 6-3 Blues)
The match threatened boil over after 17 minutes when Michael Paterson was sin binned when he led with his shoulder into a tackle with Stephen Jones. The Scarlets were brimming with confidence and they opted to kick into touch with the aim of scoring a try instead of kicking for 3 points from the earlier penalty. The home side's gamble paid off as they scored a try through Iestyn Thomas as Llanelli drove through the Blues defensive pack with ease. (Scarlets 11-3 Blues) Stephen Jones, after recovering from his previous hits, converted the try. (Scarlets 13-3 Blues)
It took until the 20th minute for the Blues to really make their mark on the game but they did it in the best possible way when Chris Czekaj scored a try after Martyn Williams' block gave Jamie Roberts space to break through the Scarlets' defensive line and he found Czekaj on the wing to score the try. (Scarlets 13-8 Blues) The try was converted by Scottish international Dan Parks. (Scarlets 13-10 Blues)
The Scarlets showed some great attacking play in the first 20 minutes of the match but the Blues managed to level the scores with a penalty kick from Dan Parks after 25 minutes. (Scarlets 13-13 Blues)
Llanelli regained the lead on the half hour mark through the impressive Ben Morgan after the Blues made some poor defensive errors and there was a lack of communication from the away side. (Scarlets 18-13 Blues) Stephen Jones converted the try. (Scarlets 20-13 Blues)
The game was end to end and only 2 minutes after Llanelli had scored a try, Cardiff went up the other end to score a try of their own through Centre Dafydd Hewitt after referee Nigel Owens decided that he wasn't held on the ground after being tackled. (Scarlets 20-18 Blues) Dan Parks kicked the conversion to level the scores once again. (Scarlets 20-20 Blues)
The home side were dealt a blow just before half time when Stephen Jones had to be substituted through injury. Rhys Priestland came on in his place.
Half Time: Scarlets 20-20 Blues
Second Half
The Blues came out from the half time break quickly as they took the lead for the first time in the game through a Dan Parks drop goal. (Scarlets 20-23 Blues)
On the 45th minute mark, Blues number 8 Xavier Rush had to be stretchered off after he appeared to be unconscious on the pitch after a strong challenge with the Scarlets defence. Both sets of fans at Parc y Scarlets sportingly applauded the number 8 off the field.
10 minutes into the second half, the Scarlets pulled the scores level once again through a Rhys Priestland penalty from a Blues knock on. (Scarlets 23-23 Blues)
The atmosphere in Llanelli was electric and the home fans erupted after 58 minutes when Sean Lamont scored a try following a prolonged period of pressure from the Scarlets on the Blues' defence. (Scarlets 28-23 Blues) Rhys Priestland missed the conversion but Blues' number 7 Martyn Williams was sin binned for entering a tackle from the side in the build up to the try.
Llanelli had the opportunity to put themselves further ahead on the scoreboard and also edge themselves into a playoff place when they were awarded a penalty when Jamie Roberts failed to roll away after tackling Sean Lamont. With Aironi 10-9 ahead of Ospreys, the Scarlets moved up into 4th in the Magners League when Priestland thumped his kick in off the saucepan topping the posts. (Scarlets 31-23 Blues)
The game was explosive and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly intense and with the Blues down to 14 men, the home fans sensed victory was theirs in the 69th minute when Sean Lamont scored his second try of the match. (Scarlets 36-23 Blues) The try was converted by Rhys Priestland. (Scarlets 38-23 Blues)
The 11,200 present at Parc y Scarlets were in full voice as they thought they had snatched a play off place, however, James Hook's late penalty kick saw the Ospreys beat Aironi 12-10 meaning that they would take the final play off place instead of the Scarlets.
Full Time: Scarlets 38-23 Blues
On tonight's performance alone the Scarlets will feel that they have plenty to look forward to next season, but ultimately it was the results earlier in the season that cost them a play off place. The Blues lacked a cutting edge against a fired up Scarlets side as they finish 6th in the Magners League table.
Man of the Match: Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Scarlets:
Tries: Iestyn Thomas (1), Ben Morgan (1), Sean Lamont (2)
Conversions: Stephen Jones (2)
Penalties: Stephen Jones (2), Rhys Priestland (2)
Drop Goals: None
Blues:
Tries: Chris Czekaj (1), Dafydd Hewitt (1)
Conversions: Dan Parks (2)
Penalties: Dan Parks (2)
Drop Goals: Dan Parks (1)
