Scarlets facing Heineken Cup exit

Only three Welsh regions can qualify via the league route, and the Scarlets remain second-from-bottom in the standings and ten points behind the Dragons with two games remaining. With Cardiff and the Ospreys also out of their reach, it means the Scarlets are hoping the Blues win the Amlin Challenge Cup as a last resort of maintaining their record of competing in every season of the Heineken Cup.

It was Lions centre Jamie Roberts who did the damage as he scored two tries in a second-half blitz and had a hand in three more as Cardiff dished out a five-try hammering at Parc y Scarlets.

Three tries in the space of ten minutes either side of half time swung the game in Cardiff's favour.

Deiniol Jones crashed over from close range after Roberts burst along the left-hand touchline.

Roberts was involved again before Xavier Rush handed prop Taufa'ao Filise a simple finish straight after the break. And the Wales centre galloped over for the bonus point on 48 minutes after Leigh Halfpenny's initial break.

Roberts and the outstanding Casey Laulala combined again for Richie Rees to put the wraps on the tie as the Scarlets misery was compounded when Stephen Jones limped off late on with an ankle injury.

Jones had given the Scarlets a major boost ahead of this crucial game by signing a new two-year deal,

And he immediately proved his worth by steering them to a 16-15 lead at half-time.

He sliced his first kick wide but timed his pass to Regan King to perfection and the Kiwi centre did the rest from 20 metres out.

But the Scarlets were already struggling to contain Blues centres Roberts and Laulala. They both went close early on before combining for Roberts to grab his first on 20 minutes. Jones kicked the Scarlets back in front, but limped off late with an ankle injury after his team were swept aside in the second half.