Llanelli gain away victory at Connacht

Connacht 11 - 18 Llanelli Scarlets Dubarry Park   Att: 1,200 Referee: Graeme Hannah Friday 18th February 2005, 19:30

The Scarlets picked up their first win on Irish soil since October 2003 when they beat Connacht on Friday night. Wales scrum half Phillips scored a first-half try double as Gareth Jenkins' side profited in an encounter lacking any real drama.

Mike Phillips - in fine form for the Scarlets

© Steve Pope Photography

The 22-year-old Phillips' ingenuity as he touched down twice in the space of seven first half minutes was the highlight of what was otherwise a rather lacklustre encounter. The game’s other high point was the 50th Celtic League appearance for Matthew Watkins. He is the first Scarlet ever to reach that landmark. Paul Warwick kicked the home side’s only points up until Matt Lacey's late bonus point-saving try. A poor lineout ultimately saw Connacht slip up in the race for the Heineken Cup play-off spot, as Cardiff - four points below the Irish province and now with a game in hand - remain in contention. Returning hooker Bernard Jackman - back from Ireland squad duty - sparked an early showing from Connacht as he carried well. But it was the Welsh - 32-17 conquerors of Munster three weeks ago - who looked the more purposeful. Gareth Bowen's early penalty shot slid wide but from a 26th-minute Salesi Finau breakaway, Phillips outsmarted the Irish rearguard to dive over from a quick tap penalty. Bowen clipped over the conversion, but was wayward when Phillips ended a dogged spell of Scarlets attacking with his second, spinning past opposite number Tom Tierney for his second on 32 minutes. The Scarlets - without regular skipper Simon Easterby - went 15-0 in front nine minutes after the restart, as a clinical Bowen punished a ruck infringement from 28 metres. After a Matt Mostyn break, a subdued Warwick wasted no time in replying for the home side, as his right wing 30-metre penalty sailed over. Bowen chalked up his 114th league point with another penalty, and although Warwick replied and Lacey burrowed over in injury time, a first away success since their 26-15 defeat of the Borders on the opening night of the season belonged to the Scarlets.

Connacht V Llanelli Scarlets   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   Matt Mostyn 15 Lee Byrne Ted Robinson 14 Aisea Havili Kaufusi 2 Paul Warwick 13 Matthew Watkins Darren Yapp 12 Salesi Finau Conor McPhillips 11 Tal Selley David Slemen 10 Gareth Bowen 1 2 Tom Tierney 9 Mike Phillips 2 Ray Hogan 1 Phil John Bernard Jackman 2 Matthew Rees Peter Bracken 3 John Davies Christian Short 4 Vernon Cooper Andrew Farley 5 Chris Wyatt John Muldoon 6 Jonathan Mills 1 Matt Lacey 7 Gavin Thomas Brendan O'Connor 8 Andy Powell Replacements Joe Merrigan 16 Dorian Williams Dan McFarland 17 Aled Gravelle Tony Buckley 18 Adam Jones Mick Carroll 19 Ian Boobyer Chris Keane 20 Leigh Davies Eric Elwood 21 Arwel Thomas Justin Meagher 22 Mark Taylor Penalty Tries 0 0

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