Scarlets humbled at Stradey

Llanelli's Heineken Cup campaign ended in embarrassment as Clermont ran riot at Stradey Park.

Just a year after the Scarlets celebrated six straight pool victories, they were sent crashing to a humbling sixth straight defeat as Clermont ran in six tries to claim the bonus point which could yet put them into the quarter-finals.

Brock James scored 16 points for the French side who exposed Llanelli's frailties in the absence of both their first choice half-backs.

With Dwayne Peel already sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Welsh side lost Stephen Jones before the kick-off with a reported back spasm.

The Jones injury meant a late shuffle of the back line with full-back Ceiron Thomas going to outside-half and Morgan Stoddart coming off the replacements bench to wear the number 15 jersey.

In driving rain and on a heavy pitch Clermont soon showed their intent with a forward rumble into the home 22 which saw the ball moved to hooker Mario Ledesma, who went over.

Emergency switch

Referee George Clancy gave the try on the advice of the television match official Marshall Kilgore. James converted to make it 7-0 after eight minutes.

Matters did not get any better for the Scarlets as they lost Ceiron Thomas before half an hour was up.

He had to be replaced by wing Darren Daniel with centre Gavin Evans going to emergency outside-half.

And three minutes later the Scarlets conceded their second try when the Clermont forwards powered to the line following a line-out with lock Loic Jacquet emerging as the scorer as the French club led 12-0.

From a tapped penalty the Scarlets got the ball out to Mark Jones, to create their first legitimate scoring chance, but he was bundled into touch five metres from the line.

The Scarlets had the chance to get on the board before half-time but Gavin Evans missed his penalty attempt - the last action of the first 40 minutes.

It did not get any better for the Scarlets after the interval as James collected 10 points in the space of four minutes.

First the outside-half planted a penalty goal and followed that up by converting his own try after latching onto the end of full-back Anthony Floch's kick ahead.

The home side's evening only went from bad to worse when Matthew Rees was sin-binned for a ruck offence and that opened the way for Floch to breeze in for the bonus point try on 57 minutes as Clermont led 29-0.

Eight minutes from time came Clermont's fifth try for man of the match Elvis Vermeulen.

Floch went in for his second try and Clermont's sixth during injury time.