RaboDirect Pro12: Treviso stun Scarlets, who still progress
The Scarlets secured the remaining RaboDirect PRO12 play-off spot despite a 41-17 defeat to Treviso at Parc y Scarlets.
Last Updated: 03/05/13 10:32pm
The Welsh outfit suffered a night to forget in front of their home fans, however Leinster's victory over fellow play-off chasers Ospreys means Scarlets will play Ulster in the semi-finals at Ravenhill next Friday night.
Treviso were celebrating their first double over Scarlets with tries for No 8 Robert Barbieri, flanker Monoa Vosawai, replacement centre Luca Mosari and wing Christian Loamanu. Outside-half Kris Burton kicked 21 points.
The Scarlets, for whom George North was playing his last home game before he moves to Northampton next season, went into a 3-0 lead with an Owen Williams penalty on four minutes.
The home scrum was dominant but lost two crucial line-outs which all but handed the Italians 10 points.
Humiliation
Treviso, who played some positive rugby against a nervous looking Scarlets, gained possession from a loose home line-out with skipper Antonio Pavanello putting Barbieri over for a try converted by Burton.
Scarlets responded with a second Williams penalty to give the outside-half 100 points for the season after Treviso had been caught offside just outside their 22, but three minutes later another mistake at a line-out led to Burton kicking a penalty.
Two more Williams penalties edged Scarlets into the lead for three minutes before Burton's second penalty saw Treviso back in front at half-time at 13-12.
And Burton also kicked another penalty two minutes after the break before Treviso had two forwards - replacement flanker Valerio Bernabo and prop Jacobus Roux - sent to the sin-bin within a minute of each other. But after that Treviso scored 31 unanswered points.
Incredibly, down to 13 men Treviso scored 10 points with a fourth Burton penalty and a try for Vosawai in the left corner, converted by Burton to give the Italians a 26-12 lead.
With Scarlets in disarray, the Welsh region's humiliation was complete as they leaked two more tries.
Morisi stepped out of a couple of tackles to go over for Treviso's third try 15 minutes from time and eight minutes later Loamanu was over in the right corner.
Burton kicked a fourth penalty before Scarlets full-back Liam Williams grabbed a consolation try in the final minute.