Llanelli Scarlets 36 Saracens 32: Farrell's Saracens down but not out

To the losers the spoils: a defeated Saracens team celebrated at the end of this pulsating EDF Energy Cup tie yesterday.

The winners, the Llanelli Scarlets, appeared to have done enough, once they opened up a convincing lead after half-time, to top Group D and go through to the semi-finals in March. Saracens, however, needed only two bonus points to go through, and by scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points, they did just that.

They threw everything at the Scarlets after the interval, after Stephen Jones had darted in for a second home try to add to Scott MacLeod's first-half effort. The young Saracens centre Adam Powell scored a 47th-minute try his side's second, after a first-half penalty try but then missed tackles by Francisco Leonelli and Kameli Ratuvou let in Jon Davies for the Scarlets' third. A crossfield move four minutes later saw Garan Evans sprawling over for No 4.

Sixty seconds later came the turning point in the match, when the England centre Andy Farrell was sent on. He provided new composure and his team-mates responded. First Ratuvou thundered over and although Farrell missed that conversion, he made no mistake converting a second penalty try awarded by the English referee, Dave Pearson. Like the first, the penalty try was awarded after the Scarlets scrum was splintered by the Saracens' eight close to the line.

Farrell's conversion brought his side to within 10 points with 10 minutes remaining and they just needed to kick a penalty, then hold the Scarlets at bay, to earn their precious second bonus point. In fact, the replacement prop Census Johnston, a 20st Samoan, silenced the home crowd with a stunning break that brought Saracens very close to a fifth try and, possibly, outright victory. Thwarted, they pressed hard and the Scarlets' captain, Simon Easterby, was penalised for holding on to the ball. Farrell kicked the penalty which closed the gap to seven points.

They kept the pressure on and the Scarlets' defence fell offside in the third minute of added time. Farrell knocked over the kick and Saracens, still behind on the scoreboard, were through.

Llanelli Scarlets: M Stoddart; M Jones, R King, J Davies, G Evans; S Jones, D Peel; I Thomas, J Hayter, D Manu, A Eustace, S Macleod, S Easterby (capt), G Thomas, D Jones.

Saracens: F Leonelli (E Thrower, 53); R Haughton, K Sorrell (capt), A Powell, K Ratuvou; G Ross (A Farrell, 56), M Rauluni (A Dickens, 77); K Yates, F Ongaro (A Kyriacou, 63), C Visagie (C Johnston, 56), T Ryder, I Fullarton, P Gustard (K Chesney, 47), D Seymour, B Skirving.

Referee: D Pearson (England).