Red-hot Scarlets pull plug on Bath’s European hopes

BATH

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Bath’s European Champions Cup quarter-final hopes suffered a crushing setback as the Scarlets cut them to shreds at the Recreation Ground.

Thewelshteam’sspectacular bonus-point victory sets them up for a potential Pool Five decider against three-time European champions Toulon next weekend.

Bath, though, are facing being frozen out of the lasteight picture after their redhot opponents ran in tries by lock Tadhg Beirne, wing Paul Asquith and the Wales international centres Scott Wil- liams and Hadleigh Parkes. Stand-off Dan Jones added 15 points from the boot as Scarlets made light of losing injured Wales star Leigh Halfpenny only 24 hours before kick-off, with outclassed Bath managing tries from wing Matt Banahan and No 8 Zach Mercer, plus two Freddie Burns conversions and a penalty.

England head coach Eddie Jones looked on as the 1998 European champions came horribly unstuck, but Bath could have no complaints on a night when the Scarlets dominated every key area.

They moved top of their group, and a quarter-final place will be secured if they see off Toulon at Parc-y-scarlets in seven days’ time.