Scarlets will once again reflect on what might have been after coming up short in a thrilling Investec Champions Cup tie against French high flyers Section Paloise.
The West Walians recovered from an early 19-3 deficit to surge into a 38-26 lead midway through the second half, only for the French side – second in the Top 14 – to finish strongly and secure a crucial 47-38 away win.
Scarlets crossed for five tries in all through Josh Macleod (two), Archie Hughes, Taine Plumtree and Joe Hawkins, and had a couple disallowed by the officials, including a potential late match-winner by Fletcher Anderson.
In contrast, the men from Pau were ultra-clinical whenever they got into the red zone, scoring seven tries in all.
It means Scarlets go to Northampton Saints on Sunday in the final round of the pool stages in fifth spot in the Pool 4 table still with something on the line in terms of knockout rugby qualification.
Led out by Sam Lousi on his 100th appearance for the club, Scarlets started brightly and after a couple of attacking line-out opportunities, they opted for the posts with Hawkins, who enjoyed an immaculate night with the boot, putting his side on the board with three points from the tee.
However, the visitors then stunned the home crowd with three tries in the space of eight minutes, showcasing the kind of quality that has claimed so many scalps in France’s domestic competition this season.
First, a quick tap led to a score for winger Toshi Butlin; the speedster was over again after 15 minutes thanks to some brilliance from some young French international Theo Attissogbe, then a superb counter from deep saw Section Paloise claim a third through replacement Clement Mondrinat to move the visitors into a 19-3 advantage.
The Scarlets desperately needed a spark and they got it through their forwards. Hawkins nailed a kick to the corner and Scarlets duly finished a line-out drive with Macleod touching down in the corner. Hawkins landed a brilliant touchline conversion. However, the home side failed to deal with the restart. Pau won another penalty and No. 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu crossed from close range against his former side.
But back came the Scarlets again to finish the half in style.
Macleod powered forward from another line-out attack and it was prop Henry Thomas who drove over the line for what he thought was his second try of the competition. However, the try was chalked off following a TMO intervention for a knock on.
The Scarlets still had a penalty, though, and with the visitors having a man in the bin following the yellow carding of flanker Rhys Hewat, from the resultant line-out drive, Macleod was over again. Hawkins’s conversion reduced the arrears to 26-17.
Then, on the stroke of half-time, Scarlets produced a stunner.
The ball was moved wide from deep to Plumtree out on the right, he chipped ahead, the bounce beat the Pau defence, Tom Rogers gathered, hacked it on and the impressive Archie Hughes was on hand to win the race to the bouncing ball. Hawkins’s conversion made it a two-point game at the break.
With renewed endeavour, Scarlets picked up at the start of the second half where they left at the end of the first.
Loose-head prop Kemsley Mathias was held up on the line after charging through the heart of the Pau defence, but Scarlets did make pressure pay when a lovely tip-on by Lousi found Plumtree rampaging to the posts for the bonus-point try. Hawkins was on target again to put his side 31-26 ahead.
It got better quickly, more infringements by the French side led to more Scarlets pressure and this time it was Hawkins who dived over at the posts for a try he also converted.
However, boosted by the arrival of the cavalry from the bench, including player of the match Dan Robson, Pau started to claw their way back into the contest.
On 58 minutes, Remi Seneca powered over from close range, then the outstanding Attissogbe sliced open the defence for his side’s sixth of the night. Axel Desperes’ conversion put the French side back in front 40-38.
Scarlets continued to throw everything at the visitors and were denied in agonising fashion when Anderson saw the ball ripped from his grasp in the process of scoring at the posts.
That proved the Scarlets’ final chance with replacement Siate Tokolahi sealing victory with a seventh try for Pau.
Scarlets – tries: J. Macleod (2), A. Hughes, T. Plumtree, J. Hawkins. Cons: Hawkins (5). Pen: Hawkins.
Section Paloise – tries: T. Butlin (2), C. Mondrinat, C. Tuipulotu, R. Seneca, T. Attissogbe, S. Tokolahi. Cons: A. Desperes (6).
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Attendance: 5,063
Scarlets: B. Murray; T. Rogers (repl D, Blacker 79), J. Roberts (repl I Nicholas 52), E. James, E. Mee; J. Hawkins (repl C. Leggatt-Jones 79), A. Hughes; K. Mathias (repl A. Hepburn 60), R. Elias (repl M. van der Merwe 60), H. Thomas (repl H. O’Connor 60), S. Lousi, J. Ball (repl J. Price 70), T. Plumtree, J. Macleod (capt; repl D. Davis 79), F. Anderson.
Yellow cards: Reece Hewat (34), Nathan Decron (50).