]t wasn’t to be for the Scarlets as Glasgow booked their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final in Dublin later this month.

In front of a vibrant 13,077 crowd at a sun-drenched Parc y Scarlets, the home side gave everything, but ultimately came up short against a powerful Warriors outfit.

Scarlets led 14-7 at the break thanks to a try from wing Steff Evans and the boot of Sam Costelow and the dream was very much alive, but the Scots came out firing after the break, scoring three tries in a pivotal third-quarter showing.

Scarlets, who picked up a number of injuries to key personnel early on, did have their opportunities in the final quarter and had a claim for a penalty try following what looked a deliberate knock-on when another Evans try appeared a certainty, but the officials ruled otherwise.

And it was Glasgow who had the final word to seal their spot at the Aviva Stadium on May 19.

The biggest crowd at the Parc since 2018 greeted Josh Macleod and his side, who were striving for a first ever European final after four previous attempts had faltered at the last-four stage.

But it was the Warriors who came flying out of the blocks, creating a superbly-crafted score for centre Stafford McDowall after just two minutes.

On the back foot for most of the opening quarter, the home side began to claw their way into the contest, initially through two Costelow penalties.

Then the Parc erupted as the home side grabbed the lead on 31 minutes.

Strong work by the forwards took play up to the visitors’ line, the ball was switched to Johnny McNicholl, whose looping pass found Evans with the freedom of Llanelli to touch down for his 12th try of the season.

That made it 11-7 and a point-blank penalty on the stroke of half-time from Costelow saw Scarlets go in at the interval with a seven-point cushion.

That, though, was wiped out soon after the restart as Glasgow started to turn the screw.

The impressive George Horne finished off an attack and at the same time Sam Wainwright - on early for the injured Javan Sebastian - was yellow carded for a dangerous challenge. On 46 minutes Costelow nudged the Scarlets back in front following a high hit on Ioan Nicholas, but the Warriors then took a grip that they never relinquished.

Replacement hooker Johnny Mathews crossed from a driving line-out and when Scotland flanker Rory Darge plunged over for a fourth, the Warriors led 28-17.

Scarlets thought they had found a way back into the game when McNicholl passed to Evans, only to be denied by an outstretched hand of full-back Olli Smith. WIth the crowd screaming for a penalty try, referee Mathieu Raynal thought otherwise and awarded an attacking scrum.

Scarlets still had chances after that, but Glasgow held out and had the final word when McDowall claimed his second from a close-range line-out in the dying seconds.

It was a tough pill to swallow for a Scarlets side who have enjoyed an outstanding run in the competition, but a European final remains elusive.

Scarlets - try: S. Evans. Pens: S. Costelow (4)

Glasgow - tries: S. McDowall (2), G. Horne, J. Matthews, R. Darge. Cons: Horne (5).