Gutsy Scarlets defeated by champions in Bordeaux

Defending champions Union Bordeaux Begles showcased their quality with a 50-21 victory over a gutsy Scarlets side at a rocking Stade Chaban-Delmas.

A week after putting 46 points on the Bulls in Pretoria, the French giants again underlined their credentials as one of the Champions Cup favourites, running in eight tries in all.

Scarlets, cheered on by around 400 travelling fans in a crowd of 32,930, fought to the end and were frustrated not to come away with a try bonus point in the closing minutes.

No. 8 Fletcher Anderson delivered an outstanding individual display, crossing for two close-range tries as well as topping the Scarlets’ count for tackles, defenders beaten and carries.

But with one point from their opening two matches in the competition, the home game against Section Paloise in the new year is now huge for the Scarlets’ hopes of knockout rugby this season.

Scarlets started brightly and their endeavour was rewarded in the eighth minute when a series of forward drives led to a try for Anderson who took a pass around the base of a ruck before diving over. Hawkins converted.

UBB, though, struck back immediately with two quickfire scores of their own.

Player of the match Mathieu Jalibert grabbed the first, collecting his own deft chip before touching down, then skipper Jefferson Poirot drove over at the posts for the second.

With a capacity Stade Chaban-Delmas in carnival mood, Mexican Wave and all, UBB kept racking up the tries – hooker Gaetan Barlot from a line-out drive, then Jailbert finished off a sumptuous counter-attack from deep.

The West Walians, though, were proving defiant opponents and were over for a second try on 29 minutes when prop Henry Thomas showed good strength to touch down. Hawkins again added the extras.

Scarlets had another opportunity just before half-time to narrow the deficit, but Ellis Mee was penalised for a challenge in the air just metres out and the champion went down the other end of the field to strike for a fifth try through flanker Tiaan Jacobs.

The visitors managed to repel UBB’s power for most of the third quarter, but when replacement Jarrod Taylor was shown yellow for a ruck infringement, the French side soon crossed again through Pablo Uberti.

Back came the Scarlets through that man Anderson, sneaking over to get the ball down for his second, but a Xan Mousques score and a breakaway effort from Les Bleus star Louis Bielle-Biarrey sealed the contest.

To their credit, the Scarlets kept battling for their elusive fourth try with Jac Davies going close wide out.

But their hopes of leaving south west France with something from the game were dashed, leaving the side with work to do in the final two pool games in January.

UBB –  tries: M. Jalibert (2), J. Poirot, G. Barlot, T. Jacobs, P. Uberti, X. Mousques, L. BIelle-Biarrey. Cons: M. Jalibert (2), M. Page-Relo, J. Carbery (2).

Scarlets – tries: F. Anderson (2), H. Thomas. Cons: J. Hawkins (2), S. Costelow

Attendance: 32,930

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SA)

Scarlets: Jac Davies; Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee (repl Macs Page 70); Joe Hawkins (repl Sam Costelow 48), Dane Blacker (repl Archie Hughes 61); Alec Hepburn (repl Kemsley Mathias 48), Marnus van der Merwe (repl Ryan Elias 54), Henry Thomas (repl  Harri O’Connor 44), Max Douglas (repl Sam Lousi 70), Jake Ball (repl Sam Lousi 39 repl Jake Ball 56), Josh Macleod (capt; repl Jarrod Taylor 51), Dan Davis, Fletcher Anderson.