Scarlets are in the semi-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup for the first time after a heroic 32-30 victory over French powerhouses ASM Clermont Auvergne in a pulsating European encounter at Parc y Scarlets.

Roared on in an incredible atmosphere, Dwayne Peel’s side showed a huge amount of character, spirit and never-say-die attitude to fight back from a 30-22 deficit to find a way to the winning post thanks to Ryan Conbeer’s brilliant finish and a nerveless conversion from player of the match Sam Costelow.

It was a match that had everything - eight tries, red cards, yellow cards, missed kicks and drama aplenty, with the pendulum swinging from red to yellow throughout.

Skipper Josh Macleod put in another momentous shift, winning a crucial late turnover, just has he did a week earlier, while the defence held firm against a relentless onslaught from the juggernaut French eight, particularly in the second half when it seemed as though Clermont were going to pull away.

But it all came down to that 76th-minute effort from Conbeer - aided by a sumptuous back-door off-load from replacement Carwyn Tuipulotu and then the right boot of a 22-year-old that will go down in Scarlets folklore.

After the visitors had taken an early lead through fly-half Anthony Belleau, Scarlets flew out of the blocks with an equalising Leigh Halfpenny penalty and two quickfire tries inside the opening 15 minutes.

The first came via a half-break from Johnny Williams and then a trademark chip and chase from Steff Evans. With the Clermont defence floundering Halfpenny was the first to the touchdown, getting his fingertips on the ball for the opening score.

The full-back wasn’t able to convert, but was soon lining up another.

Evans’s boot was involved again, but this time it was Costelow who was able to pounce on the loose ball to diver over close to the uprights. Halfpenny nailed the extras this time

Back came Clement with a kick off their own causing disarray in the Scarlets rearguard and leading to a score from centre Irae Simone, converted by Belleau.

But Simone’s evening took a turn shortly afterwards when he caught Halfpenny with a shoulder to the head, which resulted in referee Wayne Barnes showing him a red card. Halfpenny was replaced by Ioan Nicholas.

Costelow was wide with the resultant penalty, then it was 14-man Clermont’s turn to pile on the pressure. Vaea Fifita was yellow carded for bringing down the visitors’ formidable line-out drive and it led to the wing Alivereti Raka taking a crossfield kick from Belleau for his side’s second try of the night.

Belleau pushed Clermont ahead with a penalty, but it was the Scarlets who had the final say of a breathless half when Johnny Williams raced up to intercept a stray pass and then showed strength and pace to make it to the whitewash.

That made it 22-18 at half-time, but despite being a man down, Clermont started to take a grip on proceedings in the second period.

Gareth Davies was shown yellow for a trip and soon after Raka showed his immense power to shrug off a couple of tackles to score wide out.

Clermont continued to send the big men hurtling into the Scarlets defence and time and again the home side were able to hold firm amid the assault.

Scarlets didn’t help themselves with a couple of handling errors when they did have possession and on 62 minutes it was suddenly a two-score game when the Clermont pack rumbled over for replacement Giorgi Beria to claim the score.

But the Scarlets refused to lie down and with the noise ramped up at the Parc they responded superbly.

A Costelow penalty narrowed the deficit to five points on 68 minutes, then came the late drama.

With Scarlets pressing after a short-range line-out, Kieran Hardy switched play to the blindside. Tuipulotu, on for the injured Sione Kalamafoni, took two defenders to stop him, then somehow flicked a pass out to Conbeer, who still had plenty to do.

But the Saundersfoot speedster has proven himself to be one of the finest finishers in Welsh rugby in recent years and beat the cover to dive over for his ninth try of the season.

With the scores tied, Costelow’s conversion was anything but easy, but the fly-half squeezed it between the uprights to put the Scarlets ahead with three and a half minutes remaining.

You could hardly hear yourself think at the Parc as Macleod pounced for a turnover and that was it, a historic first Challenge Cup semi-final secured on a night to remember in Llanelli.

Scarlets will now await the result of Glasgow’s last-eight tie against the Emirates Lions, with the semi-final again taking place at Parc y Scarlets on the weekend of April 28-30.

Scarlets - tries: L. Halfpenny, S. Costelow, J. Williams, R. Conbeer. Cons: Halfpenny, Costelow (2). Pens: Halfpenny, Costelow.

ASM Clermont Auvergne - tries: I. Simone, A. Raka (2), G. Beria. Cons: A. Belleau (2), J. Plisson. Pens: Belleau (2).