Toulon tear apart Scarlets

Toulon eased into the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 38-12 win over Scarlets.

The Top 14 side ran in five tries, while fly-half Jonny Wilkinson kicked 13 points at the Stade Felix-Mayol in the south of France.

All the Scarlets, who had finished second in their Heineken Cup pool, managed in reply were four penalties from their fly-half, Stephen Jones.

Their heavy defeat ends Welsh interest in Europe for this season after Ospreys were narrowly beaten 29-28 by Biarritz earlier on Saturday.

After Wilkinson had broken the deadlock with an early penalty superbly struck from the touchline, the visitors moved 6-3 ahead thanks to Jones' boot.

However they had already had a warning of Toulon's attacking abilities as only a try-saving tackle from Kiwi centre Regan King stopped former Newcastle Falcon Tom May from going over.

Marvellous Marienval

Scarlets could do nothing to stop Clement Marienval reaching the try-line, though, the winger's effort being successfully converted by Wilkinson.

With his pack taking control, the number 10 was given the chance to land two further penalties to make the score 16-6 at the half-time interval.

Needing to hit back quickly, the Scarlets suffered the worst possible start to the second half when Marienval scored his second try of the contest.

Receiving a pass 35 metres out, he showed a blistering turn of pace in pursuit of his own kick, beating Scotland wing Sean Lamont - who is no slouch himself - to get to the loose ball.

A pair of penalties from Jones did reduce the arrears and they were given a further glimmer of hope when Marienval was sin-binned on 52 minutes.

But they failed to make the most of their one-man advantage and were themselves reduced to 14 when Rob McCusker was yellow-carded eight minutes later.

Toulon refused to take their foot off the gas in the closing stages, running in three tries in the final eight minutes to give the final score a one-sided look.

Winger Jeremy Sinzelle and rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams both touched down before flanker Olivier Missoup rounded out a fine personal display with the final try of the night.