2008–09 Scarlets season

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Scarlets
2008–09 season
ChairmanStuart Gallacher
Head coachNigel Davies
Celtic League5th
EDF Energy CupGroup stage (2nd)
Heineken CupGroup stage (4th)
Top try scorerLeague:
Martin Roberts (6)
All:
Morgan Stoddart (7)
Top points scorerLeague:
Stephen Jones (108)
All:
Stephen Jones (200)
Highest home attendance14,497 vs Barbarians (31 January 2009)
Lowest home attendance6,041 vs Connacht (13 September 2008)
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

The 2008–09 season is the sixth in the history of the Scarlets regional side. The season will see the Scarlets compete in three competitions: the Celtic League, the EDF Energy Cup and the Heineken Cup. The season welcomes a change of ground, with the team moving from their home of over 125 years, Stradey Park, to a new stadium in Pemberton named Parc y Scarlets, as well as a change in the team name, dropping the "Llanelli" from their moniker to become the Scarlets.[1]

Pre-season and friendlies[edit]

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A 		Scorers Attendance
23 August 2008 Bath A 16 – 24 Try: Higgitt 47' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: C. Thomas (2) 7', 29', Priestland 45'
29 August 2008 London Wasps A 20 – 17 Try: M. Jones 40+4' m
Pen: S. Jones (3) 18', 42', 56', C. Thomas 71'
Drop: C. Thomas 80+3'
31 January 2009 Barbarians H 40 – 24 Tries: Jacobs 3' c, Davies 15' c, Stoddart (2) 21' c, 40+3' m, Roberts 49' c, G. Evans 59' c
Con: C. Thomas (5) 		14,497
26 March 2009 Newport Gwent Dragons A 32 – 24 Tries: D. Evans (2) 40+3' c, 46' c, C. Thomas 43' c
Con: C. Thomas (3)
Pen: C. Thomas 		2,755

Celtic League[edit]

The Scarlets opened their 2008-09 Celtic League season away to Ulster on 5 September 2008. Despite playing against the wind in the first half, the Scarlets scored an early penalty in the sixth minute, before Darren Daniel scored the first try of the game, crossing in the corner. Clinton Schifcofske scored three penalties in response to make the half-time score 10–9 to the visitors. The Scarlets then took full advantage of the wind in the second half, Stephen Jones putting over two penalties to put the result beyond doubt.[2] The Scarlets' next match came five days later, when they travelled to Rodney Parade to take on the Newport Gwent Dragons. The game looked out of the Llanelli side's reach at half time, as they trailed 25–6, but two unanswered tries from Martin Roberts and Nathan Brew, a conversion and two further penalties from Stephen Jones pulled the score back to 25–24. Brew came close to putting the Scarlets into the lead with 11 minutes to go, but fumbled the ball before he could get to the line, while Stephen Jones put an easy drop goal wide moments later. Fortunately for him, after Robert Lewis conceded a penalty in front of the posts, Jones finally gave the Scarlets a two-point win with three minutes left to play.[3]

The team's next game came just three days later, at home to Connacht in the first of their final three games at Stradey Park. The Irish side opened the scoring with a penalty in the first minute, but those were to be their only points of the match as the Scarlets tore through the Connacht defence seemingly at will. Both Morgan Stoddart and Dafydd James broke the Connacht line before Deacon Manu scored the first try of the game, and then an almost identical one soon after to make the score 12–3 going into half-time. Two more tries came soon after the break, from Jonathan Davies and Nathan Brew, securing the try bonus point for the Scarlets. Man of the match Morgan Stoddart added two more before the end, with his tries separated by one from Mark Jones, to end the final Celtic League game at Stradey Park with a 45–3 win for the home side.[4]

The Scarlets unbeaten start to the season came to an end on 19 September when they travelled to Scotland to play Edinburgh, losing 32–12. The loss meant that the Scarlets' run of being the only team not to beat Edinburgh at Murrayfield continued. It took 26 minutes before the first try came for Edinburgh, and it was not long before they added a second. They could have had a third just before half time, but Mark Robertson knocked on in the in-goal area attempting to gather a bouncing ball. The third eventually did come, however, as did a fourth before the midpoint of the second half. A Morgan Stoddart try was sandwiched between Edinburgh's two second half scores, and Martin Roberts crossed with a minute left to play, but it was too little, too late for the Scarlets.[5] They then suffered a second defeat to a Scottish team in as many weeks with a 34–20 loss to Glasgow Warriors on 26 September. Despite taking a 12–0 lead in the first quarter of the match, the Scarlets found themselves 13–12 down at half-time and conceded another two tries before the 60 minute mark. Mark Jones scored a consolation try with eight minutes to go, but it was nullified by a last minute Glasgow try.[6]

After a two-month break for the EDF Energy Cup, the Heineken Cup and the Autumn internationals, the Scarlets restarted their Celtic League campaign with a home game against Munster on 28 November 2008, their first match at their new stadium, Parc y Scarlets. The two sides exchanged a penalty each in the first quarter of the game, but it was Munster who scored the first try at the ground, Ian Dowling crossing in the 33rd minute. Denis Leamy then scored a converted try shortly before half-time, making the score 15–3 to the Irish at the interval. The second half was largely uneventful until the Scarlets made a late resurgence, being awarded a penalty try in injury time at the end of the game. However, it was not enough to overturn the Munster lead, the match finishing 18–16 to Munster.[7]

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A 		Scorers Attendance League
position
5 September 2008 Ulster A 16 – 9 Try: Daniel 22' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (3) 6', 42', 58' 		7,368 2nd
10 September 2008 Newport Gwent Dragons A 27 – 25 Tries: Roberts 53' m, Brew 62' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (5) 20', 31', 43', 46', 77' 		5,057 2nd
13 September 2008 Connacht H 45 – 3 Tries: Manu (2), J. Davies, Brew, Stoddart (2), M. Jones
Con: S. Jones (4), C. Thomas 		6,041 1st
19 September 2008 Edinburgh A 12 – 32 Tries: Stoddart 56' m, Roberts 79' c
Con: C. Thomas 		2,655 2nd
26 September 2008 Glasgow Warriors A 20 – 34 Tries: S. Jones 5' m, M. Jones (2) 20' c, 72' m
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones 79' 		2,450 3rd
28 November 2008 Munster H 16 – 18 Try: Penalty try 80+4' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (3) 22', 42', 72' 		8,436 6th
20 December 2008 Cardiff Blues H 27 – 13 Tries: Roberts 38' m, John 62' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (5) 9', 32', 72', 80', 80+6' 		7,610 4th
27 December 2008 Ospreys A 6 – 20 Pen: Priestland (2) 2', 9' 20,520 4th
1 January 2009 Newport Gwent Dragons H 29 – 24 Tries: King 6' c, John 60' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (5) 9', 49', 63', 67', 71' 		7,050 3rd
9 January 2009 Connacht A 17 – 14 Tries: Manu 60' c, S. Jones 74' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: Priestland 5' 		2,063 3rd
21 February 2009 Leinster H 17 – 31 Tries: Roberts 33' c, Manu 53' c
Con: Priestland (2)
Pen: Priestland 30' 		6,436 4th
8 March 2009 Edinburgh H 13 – 6 Tries: D. Evans 5' m, Owens 16' m
Pen: D. Evans 80+1' 		6,302 4th
4 April 2009 Glasgow Warriors H 21 – 38 Tries: G. Evans 40+1' m, D. Jones 48' c
Con: S. Jones (1/2)
Pen: S. Jones (3) 18', 27', 40+4' 		6,103 6th
18 April 2009 Ospreys H 19 – 28 Try: J. Davies 56' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (4) 20', 25', 40+1', 40+3' 		11,444 8th
24 April 2009 Munster A 10 – 29 Try: Roberts 46' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: Priestland 12' 		8,000 8th
8 May 2009 Leinster A 8 – 45 Try: M. Jones 30' m
Pen: D. Evans 23' 		11,160 8th
13 May 2009 Cardiff Blues A 30 – 9 Tries: Williams (2) 27' m, 63' c, Day 43' m, Daniel 80+1' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: Priestland (2) 22', 37' 		8,212 7th
16 May 2009 Ulster H 43 – 17 Tries: D. Evans 2' c, Day 17' c, Williams 21' m, Daniel 43' c, Roberts 61' c, Lyons 75' c
Con: Priestland (5)
Pen: Priestland 13' 		6,219 5th
Pos Club Pld W D L F A PD BP Pts
4 Scotland Edinburgh 18 10 0 7 380 282 +98 10 50
5 Wales Scarlets 18 9 0 9 376 395 −19 4 40
6 Wales Cardiff Blues 18 8 1 9 322 361 −39 4 38

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Points for; A = Points against; PD = Points difference; BP = Bonus points; Pts = Points

EDF Energy Cup[edit]

The Scarlets kicked off their 2008–09 EDF Energy Cup campaign with a 26–17 win away to Saracens on 5 October 2008. Australian Number 8 David Lyons opened the scoring for the Llanelli side, but Saracens responded almost immediately with two converted tries. However, the Scarlets took a 16–14 half-time lead through the boot of Stephen Jones. Saracens retook the lead soon after the break, but a Kees Meeuws try in the 48th minute secured the win for the Scarlets, while Stephen Jones denied the English side a losing bonus point with a penalty in the 63rd minute.[8]

On 24 October 2008, the Scarlets hosted Bristol for the last ever competitive match to be held at Stradey Park. The home side got off to a perfect start, with Morgan Stoddart crossing the try line after just two minutes. Following lengthy analysis by the Television Match Official, Simon Easterby was awarded a try just before half-time, to take the score to 17–0 going into half time. A Stephen Jones penalty 10 minutes into the second half made it 20–0, before former Bristol centre Rob Higgitt scored to effectively put the result beyond doubt. The remainder of the match was spent with the Scarlets seeking the one try that would have given them the bonus point win, but it never came, and they had to be content with a 27–0 whitewash. The result put them in pole position to qualify for the semi-finals, although Northampton were still to play both Saracens and the Scarlets themselves.[9]

Saracens beat Northampton that Sunday, meaning that the Scarlets needed only to avoid defeat to Northampton to qualify for the semi-finals. The match was played at Franklin's Gardens on the Saturday of the following weekend, and started at a blistering pace, with Regan King and Morgan Stoddart scoring tries in the first ten minutes. Northampton hit back immediately through Chris Ashton, who added another in the 29th minute. Ashton's two tries, in addition to a penalty for each side, meant that the half-time score was 13–13. Northampton started the second half the brighter of the two sides, and they took the lead for the first time when Bruce Reihana scored a converted try in the 45th minute. They stretched their lead midway through the half, through Sean Lamont and the boot of Stephen Myler, and, although they suffered a yellow card to James Downey, they held off a Scarlet resurgence to win 33–20 and qualify for the semi-finals.[10]

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A 		Scorers Attendance Pool
position
5 October 2008 Saracens A 26 – 17 Tries: Lyons, Meeuws
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (4) 		6,068 2nd
24 October 2008 Bristol H 27 – 0 Tries: Stoddart 2' c, Easterby 40+3' c, Higgitt 66' c
Con: S. Jones (3)
Pen: S. Jones (2) 14', 49' 		10,500 1st
1 November 2008 Northampton Saints A 20 – 33 Tries: King 5' m, Stoddart 8' m, Davies 72' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: C. Thomas 17' 		12,042 2nd
Team Pld W D L F A BP Pts
Northampton Saints 3 2 0 1 82 70 2 10
Scarlets 3 2 0 1 73 50 0 8
Saracens 3 2 0 1 74 67 0 8
Bristol 3 0 0 3 39 81 1 1

Heineken Cup[edit]

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A 		Scorers Attendance Pool
position
11 October 2008 Harlequins H 22 – 29 Tries: Stoddart 1' m, M. Jones 12' m
Pen: S. Jones (4) 26', 36', 40+4', 51' 		8,236 3rd
18 October 2008 Stade Français A 15 – 37 Try: M. Jones 18' m, C. Thomas 75' c
Con: C. Thomas
Pen: S. Jones 14' 		10,240 3rd
5 December 2008 Ulster A 16 – 26 Try: C. Thomas 78' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (3) 10', 28', 47' 		10,000 4th
12 December 2008 Ulster H 16 – 16 Try: Daniel 45' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (3) 17', 53', 77' 		8,026 4th
18 January 2009 Stade Français H 31 – 17 Tries: Lyons 3' c
Davies (2) 54' m, 70' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (4) 8', 13', 31', 59' 		7,417 4th
24 January 2009 Harlequins A 24 – 29 Tries: Stoddart 56' c, Rees 60' c, Evans 80' c
Con: S. Jones (3)
Pen: S. Jones 11' 		11,083 4th
Team Pld W D L TF PF PA +/- BP Pts
England Harlequins 6 5 0 1 16 144 115 +29 2 22
France Stade Français 6 3 0 3 13 131 109 +22 3 15
Ireland Ulster 6 2 1 3 13 113 134 −21 1 11
Wales Scarlets 6 1 1 4 12 124 154 −30 2 7

Squad statistics[edit]

Pos. Name Magners
League 		EDF Energy
Cup 		Heineken
Cup 		Total Discipline
Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts
FB Wales Dan Evans 7 2 0 2 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 0 2 0 16 0 0
FB Wales Morgan Stoddart 10 3 0 0 0 15 2 2 0 0 0 10 4 2 0 0 0 10 16 7 0 0 0 35 1 0
WG Wales Nathan Brew 3 2 0 0 0 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
WG Wales Darren Daniel 11 3 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 5 16 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
WG Wales Matthew Jacobs 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WG Wales Dafydd James 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WG Wales Mark Jones 11 4 0 0 0 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 10 17 6 0 0 0 30 0 0
WG Wales Gareth Morris 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WG France Yannick N'Gog 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CE Wales Jonathan Davies 16 2 0 0 0 10 2 1 0 0 0 5 4 2 0 0 0 10 22 5 0 0 0 25 0 0
CE Wales Gavin Evans 9 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 5 15 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
CE Wales Rob Higgitt 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
CE New Zealand Regan King 8 1 0 0 0 5 3 1 0 0 0 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 17 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
CE Wales Nick Reynolds 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FH Wales Stephen Jones 12 2 16 22 0 108 3 0 6 6 0 30 6 0 7 16 0 62 21 2 29 44 0 200 0 0
FH Wales Rhys Priestland 13 0 9 15 0 63 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 9 15 0 63 0 0
FH Wales Ceiron Thomas 7 0 2 0 0 4 3 0 0 1 0 3 5 2 1 0 0 12 15 2 3 1 0 19 0 0
SH Wales Gavin Cattle 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SH Wales Gareth Davies 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SH Tonga Sililo Martens 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SH Wales Martin Roberts 17 6 0 0 0 25 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 26 2 0 0 0 25 1 0
SH Wales Lee Williams 6 3 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 11 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
PR Wales Craig Cross 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR Wales Aled Hopkins 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR Wales Phil John 16 2 0 0 0 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 24 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
PR Fiji Deacon Manu 14 4 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 18 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
PR New Zealand Kees Meeuws 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
PR Wales Scott Roberts 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR Wales Iestyn Thomas 15 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK Wales Ken Owens 14 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 23 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
HK Wales Emyr Phillips 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK Wales Matthew Rees 13 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 5 22 1 0 0 0 5 1 0
HK Samoa Mahonri Schwalger 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK Wales Vernon Cooper 15 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK Wales Dominic Day 14 2 0 0 0 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 21 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
LK Scotland Scott MacLeod 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK New Zealand Simon Maling 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK Wales Lou Reed 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK Wales Aaron Shingler 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FL Wales James Bater 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FL Ireland Simon Easterby 11 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 19 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL Wales Johnathan Edwards 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FL Wales Dafydd Jones 11 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 18 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL Wales Rob McCusker 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FL Wales Gavin Thomas 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FL Wales Josh Turnbull 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
N8 Australia David Lyons 18 1 0 0 0 5 3 1 0 0 0 5 6 1 0 0 0 5 27 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
N8 Wales Nathan Thomas 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Transfers[edit]

In[edit]

Date Pos. Name From
5 February 2008 LK New Zealand Simon Maling Suntory Sungoliath
20 March 2008 SH Tonga Sililo Martens Sale Sharks
20 March 2008 CE Wales Rob Higgitt Bristol
27 March 2008 SH Wales Martin Roberts Ospreys
2 May 2008 N8 Australia David Lyons Waratahs
18 May 2008 PR New Zealand Kees Meeuws Castres

Out[edit]

Date Pos. Name To
15 February 2008 SH Wales Dwayne Peel Sale Sharks
14 March 2008 HK England James Hayter Released
14 March 2008 PR Wales Ian Jones Released
14 March 2008 HK Wales Daniel George Released
14 March 2008 WG Wales Alec Jenkins Released
14 March 2008 CE Wales Rhys Williams Released
14 March 2008 CE Wales Rhys O. Williams Released
2 May 2008 N8 Wales Alix Popham Brive
12 May 2008 CE Wales Matthew Watkins Gloucester
20 May 2008 PR Scotland Bruce Douglas Released
20 May 2008 PR Wales Ben Broster Released
20 May 2008 LK England Adam Eustace Released
10 June 2008 FB Wales Garan Evans Retired
28 June 2008 SH Wales Liam Davies Brive
30 November 2008 WG Wales Nathan Brew Released
29 January 2009 LK Scotland Scott MacLeod Released
19 February 2009 SH Tonga Sililo Martens Released
14 March 2009 FL Wales James Bater Retired
30 March 2009 LK New Zealand Simon Maling Released
30 March 2009 FL Wales Gavin Thomas Released

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Scarlets drop Llanelli from name". BBC Sport. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Ulster 9-16 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Dragons 25-27 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  4. ^ "Scarlets 45-3 Connacht". BBC Sport. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  5. ^ "Edinburgh 32-12 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Glasgow 34-20 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Scarlets 16-18 Munster". BBC Sport. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  8. ^ "Saracens 17-26 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  9. ^ "Scarlets win on Stradey farewell". BBC Sport. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  10. ^ Standley, James (1 November 2008). "Northampton 33-20 Scarlets". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
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