Two Alix Popham tries helped Llanelli to an 18-6 victory over Munster in Stradey Park and while the home side fully deserved to take the spoils, the final scoreline did not reflect the closeness of the contest nor the merit of the Munster performance.

Llanelli will be well pleased with the outcome that leaves them just one pont short of quaifying for next year's Heineken Cup while Munster, though disappointed to have let fwith nothing from this game, will be happy to have left Stradey without any serious injury worries.

Federico Pucciariello did retire injured in the second half but it is not thought to be serious and Munster can now concentrate on the Heineken Cup final.

Munster took the lead with a Jeremy Manning penalty and held that until Popham scored a try in injury time of the opening half.

Manning resored Munster's advantage with a second penalty before Craig Evans landed a penaded and then converted Popham's breakaway try to give the Scarlets a 15-6 advantage.

Evans then landed a massive penalty to push it out to 18-6 but to their credit Munster launched a late onslaught in an attempt to salvage something from this game.

Munster: D Hurley; A Horgan, T O'Leary (MMullins), M Lawlor, I Dowling; J Manning (P Burke), P Stringer (M Prendergast); E McGovern, P Humphreys (D Varley), F Pucciariello (T Ryan); M O'Driscoll (D O'Callaghan), T Hogan, D Leamy (A Quinlan), S Keogh capt., J O'Sullivan.