2008–09 Scarlets season explained

Club:Scarlets
Season:2008–09
League Result:5th
Cup1 Result:Group stage (2nd)
Cup2 Result:Group stage (4th)
League Try Scorer:
Martin Roberts (6)
Try Scorer:
Morgan Stoddart (7)
League Points Scorer:
Stephen Jones (108)
Points Scorer:
Stephen Jones (200)
Highest Attendance:14,497 vs Barbarians (31 January 2009)
Lowest Attendance:6,041 vs Connacht (13 September 2008)
Nextseason: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

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F  - A		ScorersAttendance
23 August 2008BathA16  - 24Try: Higgitt 47' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: C. Thomas (2) 7', 29', Priestland 45'
29 August 2008London WaspsA20  - 17Try: M. Jones 40+4' m
Pen: S. Jones (3) 18', 42', 56', C. Thomas 71'
Drop: C. Thomas 80+3'
31 January 2009BarbariansH40  - 24Tries: 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 2009Newport Gwent DragonsA32  - 24Tries: D. Evans (2) 40+3' c, 46' c, C. Thomas 43' c
Con: C. Thomas (3)
Pen: C. Thomas		2,755

Celtic League

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]

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F  - A		ScorersAttendanceLeague
position
5 September 2008UlsterA16  - 9Try: Daniel 22' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (3) 6', 42', 58'		7,3682nd
10 September 2008Newport Gwent DragonsA27  - 25Tries: Roberts 53' m, Brew 62' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (5) 20', 31', 43', 46', 77'		5,0572nd
13 September 2008ConnachtH45  - 3Tries: Manu (2), J. Davies, Brew, Stoddart (2), M. Jones
Con: S. Jones (4), C. Thomas		6,0411st
19 September 2008EdinburghA12  - 32Tries: Stoddart 56' m, Roberts 79' c
Con: C. Thomas		2,6552nd
26 September 2008Glasgow WarriorsA20  - 34Tries: S. Jones 5' m, M. Jones (2) 20' c, 72' m
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones 79'		2,4503rd
28 November 2008MunsterH16  - 18Try: Penalty try 80+4' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (3) 22', 42', 72'		8,4366th
20 December 2008Cardiff BluesH27  - 13Tries: Roberts 38' m, John 62' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (5) 9', 32', 72', 80', 80+6'		7,6104th
27 December 2008OspreysA6  - 20Pen: Priestland (2) 2', 9'20,5204th
1 January 2009Newport Gwent DragonsH29  - 24Tries: King 6' c, John 60' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (5) 9', 49', 63', 67', 71'		7,0503rd
9 January 2009ConnachtA17  - 14Tries: Manu 60' c, S. Jones 74' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: Priestland 5'		2,0633rd
21 February 2009LeinsterH17  - 31Tries: Roberts 33' c, Manu 53' c
Con: Priestland (2)
Pen: Priestland 30'		6,4364th
8 March 2009EdinburghH13  - 6Tries: D. Evans 5' m, Owens 16' m
Pen: D. Evans 80+1'		6,3024th
4 April 2009Glasgow WarriorsH21  - 38Tries: G. Evans 40+1' m, D. Jones 48' c
Con: S. Jones (1/2)
Pen: S. Jones (3) 18', 27', 40+4'		6,1036th
18 April 2009OspreysH19  - 28Try: J. Davies 56' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (4) 20', 25', 40+1', 40+3'		11,4448th
24 April 2009MunsterA10  - 29Try: Roberts 46' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: Priestland 12'		8,0008th
8 May 2009LeinsterA8  - 45Try: M. Jones 30' m
Pen: D. Evans 23'		11,1608th
13 May 2009Cardiff BluesA30  - 9Tries: Williams (2) 27' m, 63' c, Day 43' m, Daniel 80+1' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: Priestland (2) 22', 37'		8,2127th
16 May 2009UlsterH43  - 17Tries: 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'		6,2195th
width=30PosClub width=30Pldwidth=30Wwidth=30Dwidth=30Lwidth=30Fwidth=30Awidth=30PDwidth=30BPwidth=30Pts
4 Edinburgh181007380282+981050
5 Scarlets18909376395-19440
6 Cardiff Blues18819322361-39438
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

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]

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F  - A		ScorersAttendancePool
position
5 October 2008SaracensA26  - 17Tries: Lyons, Meeuws
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (4)		6,0682nd
24 October 2008BristolH27  - 0Tries: Stoddart 2' c, Easterby 40+3' c, Higgitt 66' c
Con: S. Jones (3)
Pen: S. Jones (2) 14', 49'		10,5001st
1 November 2008Northampton SaintsA20  - 33Tries: King 5' m, Stoddart 8' m, Davies 72' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: C. Thomas 17'		12,0422nd
TeamPldWDLFABPPts
Northampton Saints32018270210
Scarlets3201735008
Saracens3201746708
Bristol3003398111

Heineken Cup

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F  - A		ScorersAttendancePool
position
11 October 2008HarlequinsH22  - 29Tries: Stoddart 1' m, M. Jones 12' m
Pen: S. Jones (4) 26', 36', 40+4', 51'		8,2363rd
18 October 2008Stade FrançaisA15  - 37Try: M. Jones 18' m, C. Thomas 75' c
Con: C. Thomas
Pen: S. Jones 14'		10,2403rd
5 December 2008UlsterA16  - 26Try: C. Thomas 78' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (3) 10', 28', 47'		10,0004th
12 December 2008UlsterH16  - 16Try: Daniel 45' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (3) 17', 53', 77'		8,0264th
18 January 2009Stade FrançaisH31  - 17Tries: Lyons 3' c
Davies (2) 54' m, 70' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (4) 8', 13', 31', 59'		7,4174th
24 January 2009HarlequinsA24  - 29Tries: Stoddart 56' c, Rees 60' c, Evans 80' c
Con: S. Jones (3)
Pen: S. Jones 11'		11,0834th
TeamPldWDLTFPFPA+/-BPPts
Harlequins650116144115+29222
Stade Français630313131109+22315
621313113134-21111
Scarlets611412124154-3027

Squad statistics

Pos.NameMagners
League		EDF Energy
Cup		Heineken
Cup		TotalDiscipline
AppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPts
FB Dan Evans7202016000000000000720201600
FB Morgan Stoddart10300015220001042000101670003510
WG Nathan Brew3200010100000000000420001000
WG Darren Daniel113000150000005100051640002000
WG Matthew Jacobs20000010000000000030000000
WG Dafydd James30000000000000000030000000
WG Mark Jones1140002020000042000101760003000
WG Gareth Morris40000000000000000040000000
WG Yannick N'Gog10000000000000000010000000
CE Jonathan Davies1620001021000542000102250002500
CE Gavin Evans9100053000003100051520001000
CE Rob Higgitt900000210005200000131000500
CE Regan King8100053100056000001720001000
CE Nick Reynolds20000000000000000020000000
FH Stephen Jones122162201083066030607160622122944020000
FH Rhys Priestland13091506300000010000014091506300
FH Ceiron Thomas70200430010352100121523101900
SH Gavin Cattle600000000000400000100000000
SH Gareth Davies10000000000000000010000000
SH Sililo Martens600000300000300000120000000
SH Martin Roberts176000253000006000002620002510
SH Lee Williams63000150000004000001130001500
PR Craig Cross20000000000000000020000000
PR Aled Hopkins10000000000000000010000000
PR Phil John162000103000005000002420001000
PR Deacon Manu144000200000004000001840002000
PR Kees Meeuws600000310005200000111000500
PR Scott Roberts10000000000000000010000000
PR Iestyn Thomas1500000300000500000230000000
HK Ken Owens1410005300000600000231000500
HK Emyr Phillips10000000000000000010000000
HK Matthew Rees1300000300000610005221000510
HK Mahonri Schwalger50000000000000000050000000
LK Vernon Cooper1500000200000500000220000000
LK Dominic Day142000102000005000002120001000
LK Scott MacLeod30000010000020000060000000
LK Simon Maling40000010000020000070000000
LK Lou Reed1400000000000000000140000000
LK Aaron Shingler40000000000000000040000000
FL James Bater00000000000000000000000000
FL Simon Easterby1100000310005500000191000500
FL Johnathan Edwards800000100000300000120000000
FL Dafydd Jones1110005200000500000181000500
FL Rob McCusker80000000000000000080000000
FL Gavin Thomas50000020000020000090000000
FL Josh Turnbull900000100000300000130000000
N8 David Lyons18100053100056100052730001500
N8 Nathan Thomas30000020000010000060000000

Transfers

In

DatePos.NameFrom
5 February 2008LK Simon MalingSuntory Sungoliath
20 March 2008SH Sililo MartensSale Sharks
20 March 2008CE Rob HiggittBristol
27 March 2008SH Martin RobertsOspreys
2 May 2008N8 David LyonsWaratahs
18 May 2008PR Kees MeeuwsCastres

Out

DatePos.NameTo
15 February 2008SH Dwayne PeelSale Sharks
14 March 2008HK James HayterReleased
14 March 2008PR Ian JonesReleased
14 March 2008HK Daniel GeorgeReleased
14 March 2008WG Alec JenkinsReleased
14 March 2008CE Rhys WilliamsReleased
14 March 2008CE Rhys O. WilliamsReleased
2 May 2008N8 Alix PophamBrive
12 May 2008CE Matthew WatkinsGloucester
20 May 2008PR Bruce DouglasReleased
20 May 2008PR Ben BrosterReleased
20 May 2008LK Adam EustaceReleased
10 June 2008FB Garan EvansRetired
28 June 2008SH Liam DaviesBrive
30 November 2008WG Nathan BrewReleased
29 January 2009LK Scott MacLeodReleased
19 February 2009SH Sililo MartensReleased
14 March 2009FL James BaterRetired
30 March 2009LK Simon MalingReleased
30 March 2009FL Gavin ThomasReleased

Notes and References

  1. News: Scarlets drop Llanelli from name . BBC Sport . 2008-09-11 . 2008-09-13 .
  2. News: Ulster 9-16 Scarlets . BBC Sport . 2008-09-05 . 2008-09-05 .
  3. News: Dragons 25-27 Scarlets . BBC Sport . 2008-09-10 . 2008-09-10 .
  4. News: Scarlets 45-3 Connacht . BBC Sport . 2008-09-13 . 2008-09-13 .
  5. News: Edinburgh 32-12 Scarlets . BBC Sport . 2008-09-19 . 2008-09-20 .
  6. News: Glasgow 34-20 Scarlets . BBC Sport . 2008-09-26 . 2008-09-27 .
  7. News: Scarlets 16-18 Munster . BBC Sport . 2008-11-28 . 2008-11-29 .
  8. News: Saracens 17-26 Scarlets . BBC Sport . 2008-10-05 . 2008-10-05 .
  9. News: Scarlets win on Stradey farewell . BBC Sport . 2008-10-24 . 2008-10-24 .
  10. News: James . Standley . Northampton 33-20 Scarlets . BBC Sport . 2008-11-01 . 2008-11-01 .

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