An exhilirating comeback by the Llanelli Scarlets saw them record a stunning win over Toulouse. At one point trailing by 21 points, the Welsh side showed admirable courage and flair to draw level with the three-times Heineken Cup winners with minutes to go.

But even then they were not content with a draw and three points. Instead, deep in injury time, the cool-headed Stephen Jones feigned a drop-goal attempt, fed the outstanding Regan King who broke and then gave the pass for replacement flanker Nathan Thomas to score the winning try. It virtually books their place in the quarter-finals with four wins in a row.

For Toulouse and their bitterly disappointed fans the defeat spells the end of their hopes in a competition they have starred in over recent years. Indeed, if French clubs follow through with their threat over the weekend to pull out of the competition next season, it might be the last we see of the m in the Heineken Cup for two years.

They looked to have had the game in their grasp at 24-3 ahead just before half time. But this side, who have already lost fi ve times in their domestic competition, are not the Toulouse of old and they visibly lost confi dence as the visitors staged their daring fi ghtback. It was their fi rst home defeat in a pool match in the competition for six years.

For Llanelli the back row of Alix Popham, Dafydd Jones and Gavin Thomas were outstanding with Jones a calming infl uence at No 10 and King the cutting edge in midfi eld. Yet for much of the game it looked as if their eff orts would come to nothing. Although they had got on the board in the fi rst minute of the game with a Jones penalty the visitors were guilty of some sleepy defence soon after the restart, which allowed centre Florian Fritz to sprint though a huge gap into their 22. A quick pass inside then gave Clement Poitrenaud the simplest of touchdowns.

Gaffi e du Toit's drop goal was then followed by a vintage Toulouse score. It started on the halfway line, involved some deft touches from Jean Bouilhou and Patricio Albacete and fi nally saw Poitrenaud score his second try wide on the left. Vincent Courrent converted again and the French side seemed back to something like their swaggering best.

Then Llanelli, already trying to force the pace , lost control of the ball at a breakdown wide on the right. Cedric Heymans pounced on the loose ball and fed Maleli Kunavore - a late replacement for the flu-stricken Yannick Jauzion - whose kick ahead pounced kindly for the inevitable Poitrenaud, who touched down for his third try with only 29 minutes gone. It must have been one of the fastest hat-tricks in Heineken Cup history.

So far the Scarlets, whose line-out was also struggling, were fi nding it hard to break down the home side's drift defence. However a fine break by Gavin Thomas, supported by Alix Popham, finally got them behind the fi rst line of defence, and a half-break from the always-threatening King put Dafydd James in for a try on the stroke of the interval to keep them in the match.

The Scarlets must have felt they needed to score fi rst after the break, but after a period of pressure it was Toulouse who scored their fourth and bonus-point try with - who else? - Poitrenaud stepping through the Llanelli defence and leaving Barry Davies clutching at thin air to touch down.

The visitors refused to buckle. An inspired kick ahead from Popham led to Darren Daniel scrambling for a try. Then Davies got a measure of revenge when he sliced through to score his side's third try after a thrilling counterattack. The two conversions and a Jones penalty incredibly brought the Welsh side to within four points of Toulouse.

A Courrent penalty immediately after the restart steadied the home crowd's nerves, but the momentum had decisively switched to the pool leaders. Llanelli's dramatic fourth try for the bonus point came after a kick ahead by King, which video replays showed Heymans failed to control and which was touched down by the chasing Daniel. The impeccable Jones's fourth conversion brought the sides level.

In a thrilling fi nish Toulouse replacement Trevor Brennan appeared to have barged over for a try, but the video ref ruled he was held up. Then, just when a draw seemed certain, came Nathan Thomas's dramatic score to secure the Scarlets' win, secured once the visitors had held out a fi nal wave of attacks from the French team. It was a dramatic end to a thrilling match that Llanelli's travelling supporters will remember for many years.

Venue: 16,800

Toulouse Poitrenaud (Baby 70); Clerc, Kunavore, Fritz, Heymans; Du Toit, Courrent (Elissalde 72); Human (Perugini ht), Bru (capt; Lacombe 55), Poux, Pelous (Millo-Chlusky 39), Albacete, Bouilhou (Brennan 72), Dusautoir, Lamboley (Nyanga 57) Tries Poitrenaud 4 Cons Courrent 4 Pens Courrent Drop goal Du Toit

Llanelli Davies; James, King, Gavin Evans, Daniel (Garan Evans 73); S Jones, Peel (capt); I Thomas, Rees, Dunlea (Manu ht), A Jones (Afeaki ht), Macleod, D Jones, G Thomas, Popham (N Thomas 69) Tries James, Daniel 2, Davies, N Thomas Cons S Jones 5 Pens S Jones 2 Referee C White (England)