European Challenge Cup: Scarlets top Pool B with victory in Bayonne

Jonathan Davies crossed for Scarlets' opening try at Stade Jean Dauger

Scarlets maintained their 100% record in this season's Challenge Cup with a comfortable victory over Bayonne.

The Welsh region finish top of Pool B and have secured home ties in both the last 16 and a potential quarter-final.

Tries from Jonathan Davies, Joe Roberts and Steff Evans saw Dwayne Peel's side home in the French sunshine, with Bastien Pourailly crossing late on for the hosts.

Scarlets now face Brive, who finish sixth in Pool A after beating Cardiff.

Peel had made four starting changes, knowing his side had already guaranteed progression in Europe with three wins from three.

British and Irish Lions prop Wyn Jones made his first start since October, having been recalled to Warren Gatland's Wales Six Nations squad this week.

Gareth Davies and Sam Costelow, both overlooked by Gatland, started at half-backs, with Aaron Shingler coming into the back row.

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Poor discipline cost the hosts in the opening 10 minutes, with Leigh Halfpenny slotting Scarlets ahead from the kicking tee.

He should have made it two from two on 20 minutes, but the glaring French sunshine unsighted the usually impeccable full-back.

Scarlets opted for the corner on their next kickable penalty, only for Bayonne to hold up the maul and eventually clear their lines from the scrum.

The Welsh side kept piling on the pressure and eventually got their reward on the half-hour mark, with a move straight off the training ground.

A solid scrum in the centre of the field saw Davies wrap around Costelow before offloading to Johnny McNicholl on the wing, who then fed inside for Davies to cross.

Halfpenny was off target with the conversion.

Scarlets lock Sam Lousi almost scored straight from the restart with a tearing run down the wing, but the miracle offload fell into Bayonne hands.

Scarlets continued to up the tempo as the half drew to a close and a lively McNicholl saved a clearance from going into touch before embarking on a weaving run which saw the ball shipped through the hands for Roberts to dive over in the far corner.

Halfpenny was again uncharacteristically short from the touchline.

Bayonne threatened the Scarlets line when the clock was in the red, but a turnover from Shingler ensured they went down the tunnel with a clean sheet.

Scarlets lock Sam Lousi almost scored from a restart

After a scrappy restart, Scarlets flanker Dan Davis brought the game back to life with a break before releasing scrum-half Davies who was chopped down by full-back Yohan Orabe five metres short of the line.

Scarlets did get their third on 50 minutes after a yellow card saw Bayonne reduced to 14 men.

A looping pass from Costelow found Evans on the wing, who still had plenty to do before finding the whitewash.

Halfpenny converted from the touchline, this time with the sun on his back.

The game became fragmented as both sides began to empty their benches, with Sione Kalamafoni returning to action for Scarlets after his two-week suspension.

Bayonne caught Scarlets napping on 65 minutes, with wing Pourailly darting through a hole in the defence.

Jason Robertson added the conversion.

The hosts enjoyed a spell of good possession as the game fizzled out, but Scarlets reorganised and the French outfit saw their European campaign end with four defeats from four, leaving them bottom of Pool B.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel told BBC Sport Wales:

"I felt we were in control for most of it, the last five or 10 minutes they got into it.

"We probably could have put a few more points on, especially in that first period when we had two lineouts close to their line and didn't convert.

"We had a job to do today and we came and done it.

"The boys are delighted obviously because at the start of this campaign we had a goal to finish top of the pool and we have done that."

Bayonne: Orabe; Yarde, Muscarditz, Martocq, Pourailly; Dolhagaray, Machenaud; Scholtz, Van Jaarsveld, Talakai, Cridge, Leindekar, Monribot, Capilla, Kafatolu.

Replacements: Acquier, Cormenier, Tsikhistavi, Hourcade, Marchois, Rouet, Robertson, Buliruarua.

Scarlets: Halfpenny; McNicholl; Roberts, J Davies (capt), Steff Evans; Costelow,G Davies; W Jones, Owens, Sebastian, Fifita, Lousi, Shingler, Davis, Tuipulotu.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Mathias, Wainwright, M Jones, Kalamafoni, Hardy, Patchell, Nicholas.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

Assistant referees: Filippo Russo & Riccardo Angelucci (Italy)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)