Scarlets Register Historic Win

Munster 12 - 19 Llanelli Scarlets Thomond Park Stadium   Att: 5,500 Referee: Gregg Davies Friday 12th September 2003, 19:30

Llanelli registered an historic victory over Celtic League champions Munster at Thomond Park.

Under their previous guise, the west Wales side had never beaten the Irish province, and to record the win at fortress Thomond Park means the Scarlets should be considered serious championship contenders. The win brings Munster's amazing eight year unbeaten run to an end, closing a chapter on one of the great sporting records. It was Scarlets outside-half Gareth Bowen who almost single-handedly destroyed that record, scoring all the points with a try and fourteen points from the boot. Neither side could register a five-pointer in the first period, Munster taking a three point lead into the interval thanks to Jeremy Staunton's two penalties compared to Bowen's solitary effort. In the second period, Bowen dropped a goal to level the scores, and after the sides exchanged penalties, a tense finale was ensured. When the ball broke loose form a charged down kick, it was that man Bowen who has the legs to collect the ball, and touch down for the games only try. Munster rallied, and Staunton narrowed the gap with a penalty, but when Bowen scored a fourth penalty in extra time, the game was up, as was Munster's record. A delighted Scarlets captain Leigh Davies was keen to praise his young team after the historic win. 'If you could see the delight on the boys faces in the dressing room - a lot of them are young and haven't seen anything like that,' Davies told BBC Wales Sport. 'They had 12 internationals out, but we were missing 10. 'We've got a great squad here and the World Cup boys will have to fight for their places when they get back, Gareth Bowen was outstanding.'

Munster V Llanelli Scarlets   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   4 Jeremy Staunton 15 Barry Davies Mossie Lawlor 14 Tal Selley Mike Mullins 13 Matthew Watkins Jason Jones-Hughes 12 Leigh Davies Shaun Payne 11 Lee Byrne Killian Keane 10 Gareth Bowen 1 1 1 3 Eoin Reddan 9 Mike Phillips Simon Kerr 1 David Maddocks Jerry Flannery 2 Aled Gravelle Martin Cahill 3 John Davies Trevor Hogan 4 Adam Jones Eddie Halvey 5 Chris Wyatt Denis Leamy 6 Emyr Lewis David Wallace 7 Ian Boobyer Jim Williams 8 Scott Quinnell Replacements Andy Long 16 Nathan Williams Jody Danagher 17 Rhys Williams Stephen Keogh 18 Bryn Griffiths Donal Sheehan 19 Vernon Cooper Colm McMahon 20 Dale Burn Frank Murphy 21 Ceiron Thomas Martin McPhail 22 Garan Evans Penalty Tries 0 0

All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Martin Stuart