Full time: Scarlets 27 Bristol 0: Stradey Park has never been a happy hunting ground for Bristol – and head coach Richard Hill's side were no match for Scarlets in the last game to be played at the famous ground.

Bristol, who played their first game at Llanelli in 1902, have not won in South West Wales for 22 years.

Hill, also, has never taken the EDF Energy Cup seriously during his tenure at the Memorial Stadium and chose to make wholesale changes for the clash with the Welsh regional side.

His second-string were valiant in defence, delivering some fine last ditch tackles to restrict Scarlets to only three tries.

But they hardly threatened the Scarlets line in attack and were let down by their set-piece when they did have promising positions.

On an emotional evening for the hosts, Bristol were kept waiting on the field prior to kick-off.

They were locked in a huddle for a long period before Scarlets finally came out to rapturous cheering from the home fans.

The packed Stradey Park crowd were celebrating their first try on three minutes when the Bristol defence was cut open easily by centre Regan King before he passed inside for full-back Morgan Stoddart to score. Stephen Jones converted.

Bristol were struggling to live with the Welsh region. They were being heavily penalised for offside and at the ruck, and their main attacking route, through centre Junior Fatialofa, was easily wrapped up by the Scarlets.

Jones added a penalty on 15 minutes to make the score 10-0 but Bristol should have hit back on the half hour.

Scrum-half Haydn Thomas broke blind following a turnover in their own 22 and at this time Bristol outnumbered the defenders three to one.

Lee Robinson, however, was in front of Chris Ashwin and, after receiving the pass, surprisingly did not have the speed to beat the covering defence, chipped ahead and the chance was lost.

Scarlets added a second try, awarded by the television match official, when Simon Easterby burrowed over from close range after Kees Meeuws was pulled down short. Stephen Jones converted to make it 17-0 at the break.

Scarlets nearly scored another try on 43 minutes but, after getting beyond the last man, Bristol centre Luke Eves did well to track across and tackle Stoddart into touch.

Scarlets then went close twice before replacement second row Dafydd Jones knocked on with the line at this mercy.

Stephen Jones landed a 49th-minute penalty but, following the introduction of experienced centre Kevin Maggs, Bristol enjoyed some possession in the Scarlets 22 for the first time in the match.

But the chance was lost when the visitors failed to control a line-out and struggled to mount any second-phase attack when Scarlets had tried to clear.

A fine last-ditch tackle from Mat Turner denied Stoddart on the hour. The South African-born winger did well to roll the Wales international full-back into touch.

But Bristol had no answer to a sublime piece of skill from Stoddart. The full-back drew in three defenders and as he was crunched he passed out of the back door for wing Rob Higgitt to score against his former club. Stephen Jones converted for a 27-0 lead.

Mark Jones knocked on when trying to ground the ball but the video referee adjudged that the ball had not gone forward and Scarlets were then held up.

Bristol finished strongly, commanding four scrums close to the Scarlets line, but mistimed packing down on the fourth occasion got on the wrong side of referee David Bodilly.

Scarlets: M Stoddart; R Higgitt, R King, G Evans (J Davies 65), M Jones (C Thomas 74); S Jones, S Martens (M Roberts 60); I Thomas, K Owens (M Rees 53), K Meeuws (P John 53), V Cooper (D Jones 40), D Day, N Thomas (J Edwards 80), S Easterby (capt), D Lyons.

Scorers: Tries – Stoddart, Easterby, Higgitt. Cons – S Jones 3. Pen – S Jones 2

Bristol: A Elliott (G Barden 74); L Robinson, L Eves, J Fatialofa (K Maggs 50), M Turner; C Ashwin, H Thomas (S Alford 74); M Irish, S Linklater (D Blaney 65), D Crompton (P Bracken 68), M Sambucetti, R Sidoli, M Salter (capt), R Pennycook, A Blowers (C Pennycook 68). Reps not used: D Attwood.

Referee: David Bodilly. Att: 10,800.