Castres 13 Scarlets 16

Stephen Jones kicked a late penalty as the Scarlets overcame Castres 16-13 to qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

The visitors dominated the opening 25 minutes with Matt Gilbert going over to accompany a Rhys Priestland three-pointer. However, poor kicking let the French side back in the game and Rory Kockett booted two penalties to leave the Welsh region 8-6 ahead at half-time. Aaron Shingler extended their lead in the second period and although a Yannick Forestier try levelled the scores, Jones was the hero with a 77th minute three-pointer. The Scarlets needed Munster to overcome Northampton Saints to stand a chance of qualifying for the Amlin Challenge Cup. And with the Irish province hammering the English side in Milton Keynes, it left the door open for the Welsh region. They did themselves no harm by racing out to an early 8-0 advantage. After Priestland had uncharacteristically missed a penalty, he eventually kicked them ahead with a three-pointer four minutes later. Number eight Gilbert, in for England Elite Player Squad member Ben Morgan, crossed the whitewash as the visitors asserted their early dominance. Priestland continued to struggle from the kicking tee, going wayward with two further opportunities. And he was made to pay when successive Kockett penalties bought Castres to within two points at the break. Both sides struggled to unlock each other's defences before a Shingler touchdown put the Scarlets in command. However, Forestier powered over to equalise, but Jones' late penalty sealed their passage into the Amlin Cup.