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European Champions Cup

Scarlets (10) 16

Try: Davies Con: Costelow Pens: Costelow 3

Bristol Bears (12) 17

Tries: Mata 2, Rees-Zammit Con: Worsley

Louis Rees-Zammit's try proved the difference as Bristol Bears defeated Scarlets by a single point in their Champions Cup opener.

Viliame Mata was at the heart of the first-half action in Llanelli, crossing for two tries before Gareth Davies' snipe kept the hosts in touch.

Sam Costelow kicked Scarlets in front after the break, before Rees-Zammit crossed in the corner – a try unlikely to make the Wales wing's highlights reel, but one that ensured his side came away with victory.

Scarlets bagged a losing bonus-point on their return to Europe's top competition, but will be left to rue missed chances with defending champions Bordeaux Begles their next opponents.

A perfect start for Bristol

Bristol raced into an early lead with a training ground move off a 10m line-out.

The ball went straight out to the backs and a charging Benhard Janse van Rensburg drew in the defenders which opened up a gap for Mata to dash through.

Scarlets looked to have responded when Tom Rogers plucked a Costelow cross-field kick out of the air, but the effort was chalked off for a knock-on.

The visitors continued to look threatening in the 22 and a superb offload from Kalaveti Ravouvou set up Mata's second score.

But the Fijian number eight turned hero to zero when he was booed off the pitch after being show a yellow card for a high tackle on Ryan Elias.

With the man advantage, Scarlets added a try to Costelow's earlier penalty, Davies with a typical scrum-half snipe after some good pressure from the forwards.

Jac Davies looked to have gone over in the same corner shortly before the break in what could have been a costly sin-bin, but another forward pass ensured Bristol held on to a two-point lead going down the tunnel.

Ellis Mee, who had outshone fellow Wales wing Rees-Zammit on occasion, almost got Scarlets off to a dream restart, but the defence scrambled well.

Bristol thought they too had scored when Ravouvou finishing off a sleek move, but play was brought back for a forward pass after another TMO intervention.

Costelow added two penalties as Scarlets looked to pull away, but momentum swung back to the visitors with Rees-Zammit tumbling over in the corner.

The game grew scrappy as the clock ticked down, and while Scarlets threw everything at their Anglo-Welsh rivals, it was Bristol who finished the strongest.

Scarlets must lick their wounds quickly as they face a daunting a trip to the south of France next Saturday to take on reigning champions Bordeaux Begles (17:30 GMT), the French side buoyed by their 46-33 comeback victory against Bulls.

Bristol host French Top 14 high flyers Pau on Sunday (17:30 GMT), with Pau opening their campaign at home to Northampton Saints.

Scarlets: J Davies; Rogers, James, J Williams, Mee; Costelow, G Davies; Mathias, Elias, Holz, Lousi, Ball, Douglas, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, S O'Connor, H Thomas, Taylor, Davis, Blacker, Hawkins, J Roberts.

Bristol: Jordan; Rees-Zammit, Van Rensburg, J Williams, Ravouvou; Sam Worsley, Marmion; Ellis Genge, Oghre, Lahiff, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding (capt), Mata.

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Chawatama, Owen, Grondona, Wolstenholme, Boshoff, Carrington.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

Assistants: Filippo Russo & Franco Rosella (Italy)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

Sin bin: Viliame Mata