The Scarlets' bid to reach the United Rugby Championship play-offs suffered a hammer blow as they were beaten 29-17 by the Stormers in Llanelli.
It was another case of so near yet so far for Dwayne Peel's side who were made to pay for their own inaccuracies. The Scarlets now face an uphill task if they are to reach the top eight considering they face a trip to South Africa at the back end of the season.
Tries from Ben Loader, Deon Fourie, Leolin Zas and Hugo Venter, along with nine points from the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gave the Stormers a bonus point victory. All the Scarlets could muster were a couple of tries from Ellis Mee and Ioan Nicholas along with seven points from Ioan Lloyd's boot.
The visitors claimed the opening try of the game as outside centre Wandisile Simelane sliced through the Scarlets defence before offloading to Zas. He got brought down close to the line before the ball was put through the hands for Englishman Loader to score at the corner.
The Stormers continued to attack and soon claimed their second try and this time full-back Warrick Gelant was the architect as he danced his way through the Scarlets defence. There was some weak tackling from the hosts before Springboks backrower Fourie touched down for a try which Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
But the hosts hit back with a try of their own. A lovely kick through from Lloyd forced Feinberg-Mngomezulu to concede a lineout in his own 22. Vaea Fifita won the ball at the lineout which allowed the Scarlets to lay siege to the Stormers line.
After a period of sustained pressure which included some powerful carries close to the line from Marnus van der Merwe and Alex Craig before Gareth Davies' pass but Mee over at the corner for Lloyd to convert.
The Stormers threw everything at the Scarlets in the closing stages of the second-half and Feinberg-Mngomezulu gave them a 15-7 lead at the interval after Alec Hepburn got yellow carded for a reckless no arms tackle.
Whatever Dwayne Peel said in the changing rooms worked because the Scarlets had the bit between their teeth in the early stages of the second-half. Scarlets captain Josh Macleod won a penalty at the breakdown which gave the hosts some much needed field position.
The Welsh club's driving lineout was an effective weapon and after a period of sustained pressure Nicholas claimed their second try which Lloyd converted. The Scarlets were now in the ascendancy but failed to turn pressure into points and the game turned back in the Stormers' favour when Lloyd's penalty kick to touch went over the dead ball line.
It snowballed from there as the Stormers won a penalty at the resulting scrum which ended up in the Scarlets defence parting like the red sea for Zas to run in for the try.
To their credit the Scarlets refused to throw in the towel and Lloyd made it a one-score game again with a successful penalty. The Scarlets threw the kitchen sink at their visitors and a cracking break from replacement scrum-half Archie Hughes very nearly yielded a try but he was isolated and the ball was turned over.
Peel's side had one final chance when the Stormers over threw a lineout. They had an overlap out wide but Macs Page's pass got intercepted.
A terrific 50/22 from Feinberg-Mngomezulu gave Venter a chance to kill the game off as he powered over from short range.
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Tomi Lewis.
Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Herschel Jantjies; Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Deon Fourie, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos.
Replacements: André-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jurie Matthee, Damian Willemse.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Tom Spurrier (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Follow live updates from Parc y Scarlets below:
Full-time: Scarlets 17-29 Stormers
Despite a valiant second-half fightback the Scarlets have up short in Llanelli. This is a hammer blow for their hopes of reaching the URC play-offs as well.
The Stormers were just far more accurate as the Scarlets are made to rue a host of missed opportunities.
Try Stormers! Scarlets 17-29 Stormers
That's probably it for the Scarlets' hopes of reaching the URC play-offs. Hugo Venter powers over from short range to put this game out of reach for the Scarlets
So close!
It's a cracking break by Archie Hughes from the base of the ruck straight into the Stormers 22. But it's some excellent defensive work from Damian Willemse to win a turnover.
Scarlets 17-22 Stormers
This is close
It's harum scarum stuff in Llanelli. Macs Page slices through the Stormers defence before the visitors counter ruck well.
But Damian Willemse spills the ball and now Scarlets have an attacking lineout.
Scarlets 17-22 Stormers
Penalty Scarlets! Scarlets 17-22 Stormers
Ioan Lloyd knocks over a penalty to make it a one-score game again.
Try Stormers! Scarlets 14-22 Stormers
That's a soft try to concede. Stormers win a lineout and Leolin Zas races clear for the try.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converts.
Another bad error
Scarlets are on the attack but the ball is spilled forward and hacked up field by the Stormers. But Mee is pushed off the ball and Scarlets win a penalty.
The Scarlets turn down a kickable penalty but Ioan Lloyd's kick to touch goes over the dead ball line.
Scarlets 14-15 Stormers
Scarlets replacement
Ryan Elias replaced Marnus van der Merwe. It's a surprising substitution because the South African has been the home side's best player
End to end stuff
Both sides are looking to play with the ball. The Stormers are on the front foot in the Scarlets half but Alex Hepburn intercepts the ball and the home side are off.
Ellis Mee is very prominent and after hacking the ball down field the Stormers make a mess of it. Scarlets find Macs Page on the edge.
He beats the first man and attempts a chip through but is blocked by a Stormers player and goes into touch. This is promising from the Scarlets though.
Scarlets 14-15 Stormers
Try Scarlets! Scarlets 14-15 Stormers
It's the perfect start to the second-half by the Scarlets. Josh Macleod wins a penalty at the breakdown which gives the Scarlets field position.
The home side's maul looks very strong and after a period of sustained pressure Ioan Nicholas hits a nice angle to score. Ioan Lloyd adds the extras.
Second-half kick-off
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets the second-half underway.
Scarlets 7-15 Stormers
Half-time: Scarlets 7-15 Stormers
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu knocks over a penalty at the stroke of half-time. The Stormers have been the better side and the Scarlets will have to step it up in the second-half.
Yellow card!
Alec Hepburn gets sent to the sin bin for a no arms tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Scarlets 7-12 Stormers
Scarlets are hanging on
The Stormers are in the ascendancy at scrum time and win a penalty but their backs are tearing it up here. Ben Loader in particular looks very dangerous.
Scarlets survive one Stormers attack but the referee has gone to the TMO for a potential act of foul play.
Scarlets 7-12 Stormers
Great defence
A try looked almost certain but a tremendous tackle from Marnus van der Merwe on his opposite number Joseph Dweba saves the Scarlets.
Scarlets 7-12 Stormers
Bad error
It's a poor restart from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu which looks to be going over the dead ball line but Ioan Lloyd touches the ball and is forced to clear to touch.
Stormers have a lineout in the Scarlets 22 and they nearly score but Ben Loader can't hold onto Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's cross kick.
But the referee was playing advantage so the Scarlets will have to dig deep here.
Scarlets 7-12 Stormers
Try Scarlets! Scarlets 7-12 Stormers
A smart kick through from Ioan Lloyd forces Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to concede a lineout in his own 22. Scarlets win their own ball and lay siege to the Stormers line.
There's some powerful carries close to the line before Gareth Davies' pass puts Ellis Mee over at the corner. It's a great conversion from Ioan Lloyd.
Some promising signs in attack
The Scarlets are showing some positive signs with ball in hand with powerful centre Eddie James showing up well. Dwayne Peel's side had a period of pressure in the Stormers 22 but it comes to nothing after Vaea Fifita spills the ball forward.
Scarlets 0-12 Stormers
Try Stormers! Scarlets 0-12 Stormers
The Scarlets make headway down the short side but Joe Roberts spills the ball forward and the visitors counter attack. Warrick Gelant slices through the Scarlets defence.
Deon Fourie eventually scores but there's some weak tackling from the hosts.
Try Stormers! Scarlets 0-5 Stormers
It's a cracking try from the visitors!
Wandisile Simelane slices through the Scarlets defence. The ball goes through the hands for Ben Loader to score at the corner.
Scrum troubles
The Scarlets have been penalised twice at the scrum. They'll need to sort this out.
Stormers have a lineout deep in the Scarlets half but Taine Plumtree does a terrific job of stopping their maul to win a turnover.
Scarlets 0-0 Stormers
Strong start
It's a decent start for the Scarlets who are carrying the ball well. One powerfuls urge from Alex Craig results in a penalty.
Ioan Lloyd goes to the corner and Scarlets have a strong attacking position but it's a poor throw from Marnus van der Merwe.
Scarlets 0-0 Stormers
Late change
There's a late change for the Scarlets. Tighthead prop Sam Wainwright has been ruled out through illness and is replaced by Wales prop Henry Thomas.
Gabe Hawley comes onto the bench.
The opposition
The Scarlets face a stern challenge this afternoon against a Stormers outfit packed full of Springboks.
Outside-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is seen as the heir to Handre Pollard's number 10 shirt with the Springboks. The 23-year-old is a mercurial talent who has already made his mark on the international circuit and the Scarlets will have to contain the former Llandovery College pupil if they are to stand any chance of coming out on top.
Springboks second-row Salmaan Moerat, No 8 Evan Roos, tighthead Francois Malherbe and full-back Warrick Gelant are also players to watch out for.
But the Stormers have only won twice on the road this season while the Scarlets have won their last seven games at home.
Play-off race
The Scarlets remain in contention to make the play-off's but today's clash with the Stormers is a vitally important game.
Dwayne Peel's side are currently 10th on the URC table, level on points with today's opponents, and two points off the play-off places. The really cannot afford anymore slip-ups.
View from the Scarlets camp
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel:
"You look at how tight the league is at the moment and it is clear it is going to go down to the wire in terms of the play-off race.
"Our form here in Llanelli has been excellent this season with the supporters really getting behind the boys.
"We are going to need that again against a Stormers side who have come here with pretty much a full crew with a couple of Springboks back from injury."
Welcome
Join us for live updates of the Scarlets' crucial United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers in Llanelli.
Dwayne Peel's side are level on points with the Stormers as both sides chase a place in the end of season play-offs. This is a game the Scarlets can ill-afford to lose.
Kick off is at 3pm.
Good afternoon
Welcome to our coverage of today's URC clash between the Scarlets and the Stormers.
Kick-off for this one is at 3pm - we'll have all the latest news and score updates from Parc y Scarlets right here, so stick with us for more.
