Up until then it looked as though the Scarlets were going to maintain their discipline and hold onto their slender lead to give Wales one team to follow in the latter stages of European competition. But a fatal step offside in the 77^th minute gave Botica the chance to step up a grab the glory.

It was a kick that, given the conditions, wasn’t the easiest in the world, but he would have expected to land the goal. His father, the former All Black outside half Frano, ws watching in the stands with mixed feelings.

While he was delighted for his son, he had to hold back any celebrations because he used to play for Llanelli. It was a killer blow for the home side who had gone into the game hoping to notch a notable double over the English outfit.

Both teams came into the game knowing there was the chance to continue their European adventure in the Amlin CC and the Quins arrived wanting to put the record straight following their 33-26 defeat at the Twickenham Stoop in the opening round.

There was an almost perfect start for the home team when a thrilling break over half-way by Jordan Williams was converted into a try for scrum half Gareth Davies following a useful link by skipper Rob McCusker. Rhys Priestland added the conversion.

Back row man Aaron Shingler was then given a 10 minute spell in the sin-bin for his reckless charge into a maul and a minute later the Quins made their numerical advantage pay with a try wide out on the right for full back Mike Brown. Nick Evans used the inside of the upright to coax over his conversion.

A second try wide out from the visitors, this time from right wing Ollie Lindsay-Hague, edged Quins ahead on 27 minutes. Evans again converted, but a Priestland penalty soon pegged back the visitors’ advantage.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Shingler atoned for his earlier misdemeanour by driving through a ruck on the Quins line to touch down under the noses of his opposing back row to give the Scarlets a 15-14 interval lead.

There was a dramatic start to the second half with the Scarlets almost scoring at one end before the Quins turned the home miss into a 14 point turn around with a Karl Dickson try three minutes after the restart.

But the Scarlets were in no mood to lie down and Wales centre Scott Williams burrowed his way over for a try after 50 minutes that made it 20-19. Priestland failed with his conversion attempt and there were also a couple of long range penalty misses from inside his own half by Jordan Williams.

And that is how the scoreline stayed in a second half played in torrential rain and with mounting pressure. Something had to give and it was at the Scarlets’ end of the pitch three minutes from time.

Up stepped Botica and over went the penalty that guaranteed Quins a trip to Paris to face Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup quiarter-finals.