Late Bayonne penalty denies Scarlets statement win

Scarlets reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in 2023

European Challenge Cup: Pool 3

Bayonne (14) 17

Tries: Bruni, Lopez Cons: Lopez 2, Pen: Segonds

Scarlets (13) 16

Tries: Evans Con: Lloyd Pens: Lloyd 3

A late Bayonne penalty denied Scarlets an opening-round victory in the European Challenge Cup.

Ioan Lloyd nudged the visitors ahead for the first time on 74 minutes at a wet and windswept Stade Jean Dauger.

But Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi reversed a penalty moments later after Archer Holtz' reaction to foul play and replacement fly-half Joris Segonds struck the winning kick.

It was a tough call on Australian prop Holtz who had otherwise impressed on his club debut, including a try-saving tackle.

But it was even harsher on Scarlets who looked on course for only a second win in France over the past ten years.

Until then they had given a masterclass in defence, discipline and determination to keep it a one-point game.

Rodrigo Bruni and Camille Lopez both crossed for Bayonne - fifth in the Top 14 - who dominated the first half.

But the hosts were guilty of over-confidence as Vaea Fifita, Ellis Mee, Tom Rogers and Holtz separately all denied Bayonne players grounding the ball over the line.

Scarlets slowly clawed their way back through the boot of Lloyd before hooker Shaun Evans burrowed over on the stroke of half-time.

Fifita came up with crucial line-out steals in the second half that was scoreless before the late drama.

Lloyd put Scarlets ahead only to see Bayonne charge down replacement fly-half Charlie Titcombe from the restart.

Scarlets survived the try by a narrow offside call but were made to pay for Holtz's late reaction.

Bayonne assistant coach Nick Abendanon said: "We started well with the two tries but we didn't control things well to keep them under pressure.

"We got into the score zone so many times and didn't convert those chances and let them back into the game.

"We got a bit lucky with the late penalty but we're happy with the win."

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "That's a second week in a row that we've had that frustration at the end.

"It was a huge effort and we got ourselves ahead so it's really disappointing to give away that late penalty.

"A bonus point could be important at the end of the pool stage but we know it should have been a lot more."

Bayonne: Cheikh Tiberghien; Nadir Megdoud, Guillaume Martocq, Manu Tuilagi, Mateo Carreras; Camille Lopez (capt), Guillaume Rouet; Martin Villar, Lucas Martin, Pieter Scholtz, Denis Marchois, Veikoso Poloniati, Rodrigo Bruni, Baptiste Heguy, Uzair Cassiem.

Replacements: Torsten van Jaarsveld, Andy Bordelai, Pascal Cotet, Baptiste Chouzenoux, Giovanni Habel-Kuffner, Baptiste Germain, Joris Segonds, Tom Spring.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Efan Jones; Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig (capt), Jac Price, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Isaac Young, Sam O'Connor, Archer Holz, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Macs Page.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR).

Assistant referees: Franco Rosella &Alex Frasson (Ita) (WRU).

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR).