Connacht earn draw at Llanelli

Llanelli 33 Connacht 33

A penalty three minutes into stoppage time from former Ireland fly-half Eric Elwood clinched Connacht side a deserved draw in a thrilling Celtic League clash at Stradey Park.

A 79th-minute penalty by Llanelli fly-half Gareth Bowen had appeared to have sealed the points for the title-chasing Scarlets, but after a last-ditch attack Elwood levelled matters with a 25-metre kick after the home side had been penalised at a ruck.

Connacht, the only side to have won at Stradey this season, gave as good as they got in the first quarter.

Two penalties from fly-half Gareth Bowen had put the home side 6-0 up inside the opening five minutes, only for the Irish province to hit back in style.

A penalty by fly-half Eric Elwood was quickly followed by the game’s first try by left wing Wayne Munn, who latched onto a pass following a quickly-tapped penalty by scrum-half Michael Walls.

Llanelli’s response was immediate with lock Bryn Griffiths claiming his first league try for the region following a smart midfield break by skipper Matthew Watkins.

An Elwood penalty made it 13-13, but a well-worked converted score by Watkins following a strong charge by number eight Scott Quinnell – back after a six-week injury lay-off – ensured the home side led 20-13 at the break.

When centre Tal Selley finished off a superb attack by the Scarlets inside the first minute of the restart it appeared the game was over for the valiant Irish side.

But a well-worked score for full-back Matt Mostyn brought it back to 27-18 before Connacht number eight John O’Sullivan was sin-binned for punching.

A blatant stamping by Bowen saw him follow eight minutes later and Munn’s second try of the night set up a tense finale.

Then followed the late drama which saw a Connacht penalty try, a 79th minute penalty by Bowen, then crucially Elwood’s cool equaliser three minutes into injury time.