HEINEKEN CUP POOL 4 Scarlets 14 Tries: S Quinnell Pens: S Jones 3 Northampton 9 Pens: Drahm, Grayson 2

England World Cup stars Ben Cohen, Steve Thompson and Paul Grayson tasted defeat for the first time this season as Northampton's Heineken Cup campaign began in miserable fashion at Stradey Park.

Wing Cohen started the Pool 4 clash, while his England colleagues appeared as second-half substitutes.

But they could make little impression on a committed and organised Scarlets side.

And the Welsh team seized their chance to exact revenge for their 31-28 semi-final defeat against Saints in the competition three years ago.

Scott Quinnell's early try, plus three penalties from Stephen Jones, gave Llanelli the upper hand.

There is more in us as a team than people have seen tonight Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins

Northampton could only manage two penalties from Grayson and another from Shane Drahm - but they did go home with a bonus point.

The opening exchanges were dominated by Llanelli as Saints resorted to a hurried kicking game.

Quinnell pounced after just six minutes following superb approach work from Dwayne Peel and Chris Wyatt.

Saints fly-half Drahm cut the deficit with a 30-metre penalty but Jones responded for Scarlets from similar range.

At least we have come away with something in terms of the bonus points, but we didn't put too many sequences together Northampton coach Wayne Smith

A triple Saints substitution provided fresh momentum after the break, with Thompson, prop Chris Budgen and lock Mark Connors all joining the action.

Grayson entered the fray eight minutes later, but Jones put Scarlets further ahead with his second successful penalty on the hour.

Grayson narrowed the deficit 10 minutes from time, but a late penalty from Jones sealed victory before Grayson struck again to salvage a bonus point.

Scarlets: B Davies, Evans, Taylor, Watkins, Finau, S Jones, Peel, I Thomas, McBryde, J Davies, Cooper, Wyatt, D Jones, Easterby, S Quinnell.
Replacements: John, A. Gravelle, A. Jones, Boobyer, Phillips, G. Bowen, Selley.

Northampton: Beal, Reihana, Hyndman, Tucker, Cohen, Drahm, Robinson, Smith, Richmond, Morris, Hunter, Phillips, Seely, Fox, Blowers.
Replacements: Thompson, Budgen, Connors, Soden, Howard, Grayson, Sleightholme.

Referee: David McHugh (Ireland).