European Cup Pool Five/ London Irish 25 Llanelli 32: Dafydd James established himself as the record European Cup try-scorer last night as the Scarlets completed a Welsh double by launching their European campaign with a high-scoring away win in Pool Five.
James's first-half breakaway score was the 25th try of his tournament career, putting him ahead of all the Northern Hemisphere's most illustrious names.
It was also the prelude to a second-half onslaught which earned the Welshmen a deserved bonus point thanks to further tries from the captain Simon Easterby, Mark Jones and Iestyn Thomas.
Irish had no answer to the Scarlets' pace and sleight of hand until the final quarter when, at 32-6 down, they finally awoke from their slumbers.
Phil Murphy, Seilala Mapusua and Delon Armitage all breached the previously watertight Scarlets defence and, with Nathan Thomas in the sin-bin, the visitors were made to sweat over the closing furlong.
It was rarely a game oozing with sophistication. The Scarlets have traditionally done better than most Welsh clubs across the border but had managed only two previous wins in England in their European Cup history.
Reading was also the scene of their heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Northampton in 2000, and the visitors took time to get going.
Irish were still suffering the after-effects of their bruising defeat to Sale five days earlier. The influential Riki Flutey was ruled out with a hamstring problem and the academy lock Gary Johnson was hastily drafted into the pack.
Mike Catt, out for four weeks with a calf injury, was back in midfield but looking rusty, badly missing touch with successive kicks and hitting the post with a drop-goal attempt.
Two penalties by Barry Everitt did at least give the Exiles a foothold on the scoreboard and, slowly, their confidence began to grow.
Juan Leguizamon and Paul Hodgson were an energetic combination at the base of the scrum but there was precious little penetration elsewhere.
The Scarlets were equally sketchy until a midfield flick by Regan King fell kindly for James to race away unmolested and move one ahead of the former top try-scorer, Michel Marfaing of Toulouse. As the 31-year-old James has represented five different clubs in the competition, it was as much a reward for perseverance as his finishing ability.
A torrent of tries followed, Easterby and Thomas crashing over from close range in contrast to a sublime piece of finishing down the left touchline by the talented Jones.
It looked all over for Irish but, out of nowhere, they scored 19 unanswered points to ensure a grandstand finish. It ultimately proved to no avail, leaving Llanelli handily placed in a pool which also contains Ulster and Toulouse.
- Guardian Service
LONDON IRISH: Horak; Ojo, Mapusua, Catt, Tagicakibau; Hodgson, Everitt; Hatley, Paice, Skuse, Roche, J Hudson, McCullen, Danaher, Leguizamon. Replacements: Pedro Tiesi for Catt (49), Rees for Hodgson (49), Coetzee for Paice (47), Lea'aetoa for Skuse (71), Magne for Danaher (47). Not used: D Murphy, D Armitage. Sin Bin: Danaher (27).
LLANELLI SCARLETS: C Thomas; James, King, G Evans, M Jones; S Jones, Peel; I Thomas, Rees, Dunlea, Cooper, Afeaki, Easterby, G Thomas, Popham. Replacements: A Jones for Afeaki (57), N Thomas for G Thomas (10). Not used: Gravelle, Manu, Stuart-Smith, Daniels, B Davies.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
