Jason Little took another significant step towards justifying his six-figure salary as Gloucester made a winning Heineken Cup debut at Stradey Park on Friday.

The double Australian World Cup winner scored Gloucester's opening try - a defence-splitting 25-metre break - after switching from centre to fly-half when Simon Mannix went off nursing a suspected fractured wrist.

And it proved significant toward securing a priceless Pool Five away win, confirmed when substitute forward Andy Hazell galloped over 15 minutes from time.

Mannix's departure, with barely half an hour gone, looked as if it could be a mortal blow to Gloucester.

The New Zealander landed three long-range penalties for a 9-0 lead inside 25 minutes, calming Gloucester's nerves in front of 7,000 vociferous Scarlet supporters.

But his early exit meant England international Andy Gomarsall taking over kicking duties, and he missed four successive shots at goal - including a 15-metre sitter - before converting Hazell's touchdown.

Samoan Terry Fanolua then kicked a 70th-minute penalty, and added an injury-time goal for good measure, and Gloucester were home and dry at the expense of last season's Heineken Cup semi-finalists.

Llanelli's Wales lock Chris Wyatt crashed over deep into stoppage time, but Gloucester had already done enough and successfully played out the closing seconds.

Llanelli had their moments, highlighted when wing Mark Jones finished off a well-worked move during first-half injury-time, but they conceded 10 vital points without reply after the break.

With three home games to come - against Roma, Colomiers and Llanelli - Gloucester are now well-placed for a berth in next January's quarter-finals.

And Little, a two-try debutante against Premiership West Country rivals Bristol last weekend, will deservedly take the accolade.

He effortlessly filled the void created by Mannix, and with Gloucester's fired-up forwards relishing the physical exchanges, Llanelli often found themselves nullified at source.

Mannix landed his opening penalty from 45 metres after just eight minutes, then found the target from similar range to double Gloucester's advantage.

In contrast, Llanelli's Wales fly-half Stephen Jones struggled to find the target, and Gloucester were in no mood to allow their hosts any reprieves.

Jones finished with an average return of four kicks from seven attempts, his performance epitomising a subdued Scarlet's effort who never remotely threatened to match last season's heroic European exploit.

Although Jones kicked two penalties to reduce Llanelli's early arrears, Little wrong-footed the home defence, combining pace with power to smash his way over.

Llanelli's most creative moment of the match produced the try, half-backs Guy Easterby and Jones combining neatly to send Mark Jones surging through Gloucester's frail defence.

Trailing by a point at the break, Llanelli needed to take control, but Gloucester were able to dominate by combining solid defence with committed set-piece work, preserving their lead despite Gomarsall's goal-kicking nightmare.

Hazell had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he pounced for a vital try, rounding off impressive approach work by outstanding Gloucester centre Chris Yates, whose aggressive midfield running stretched Llanelli all night.

That score gave Gloucester breathing space, and whatever Llanelli produced after that, it was always going to be a case of too little too late, and they now have a mountain to climb.