Three off as Moon shines

Llanelli 31 Pau 15

Who can doubt that the passion the new European Cup already generates will make it one of the great adornments of world rugby? But not quite yet, and certainly not yesterday.

So great was the hunger for victory at Stradey Park that three players were sent off. One of the disgraced Frenchmen left the field gesturing at a baying crowd. After the whistle, the police escorted some of the French towards the tunnel as spectators milled around and an angry altercation threatened to boil over.

These were no more than ugly explosions in what was otherwise an entertaining match in which Llanelli burnt out the challenge from the strong club from the Pyrenees. They took on the French in every area: the front five were mighty in the tight and mightier in the loose, creating space for the inside pair of Rupert Moon and Frano Botica.

Moon was superb yesterday, and ran through the French side for a solo try. Botica scored a classic try, jinking to making just enough space to squeeze past the Pau defence. He also kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Above all, the Scarlets recovered their hunger. Their first try was characteristic: the pack rolled forward before freeing the ball for the bristling centre Neil Boobyer to cross. Boobyer was also involved in the second Llanelli try. He kicked through and when Pau failed to ground, the Llanelli full-back Stephen Jones chased up to score.

Against Llanelli's four tries, the French got a couple early on, the first by the full-back Nicolas Brusque after only six minutes, and the second by the right wing Sebastian Claverie a quarter of an hour later. The flyhalf David Aucagne converted one and kicked a penalty.

As Llanelli took a grip, the dirt crept in. The flanker Nicolas Bacque was sent off for a punch that started a brawl, and the Llanelli flanker Iwan Jones followed a few minutes later for a kick. Finally, the Pau scrum- half Frederic Torossian was sent off for stamping on Moon's face. Gareth Jenkins, the Llanelli coach, blamed "the sinister side" of French rugby: "If they're down, they'll do anything to get back - fists, teeth, whatever."

Those who look on the bright side might reflect that it only emphasised how seriously the competition is already taken.

Llanelli: S Jones; A Richards, M Wintle, N Boobyer, G Evans; F Botica, R Moon; R Jones (R Evans, 80), R McBryde (capt), S John, S Ford, V Cooper (P Morris, 68), C Wyatt, J Williams, I Jones.

Pau: N Brusque; S Claverie, D Dantiacq, C Paille, Y Martin; D Aucagne, F Torossian; P Maurin (S Bria, 58), J Rey (capt), P Trieptapdeville, T Mentieres, A Lagouarde (T Cleda, 72), S Keith, F Rolles (P Ebel, 62), N Bacque.

Referee: S Lander (RFU).