Connacht stun Llanelli at Stradey Park

Llanelli Scarlets 21 Connacht 29

Llanelli Scarlets’ early season problems continued as Connacht stunned Stradey Park for the second successive season with a shock victory.

A 45-yard penalty from centre Mark McHugh and an injury-time try from flanker Michael Swift sealed the win for the Irish province, who were the only side to win at Llanelli in Celtic competition last season.

Llanelli had their chances, notably in the first half, but a fourth Celtic League defeat is hardly what director of rugby Gareth Jenkins would have wanted in their final match before the arrival of Toulouse for the start of the Heineken Cup.

Llanelli started the game with purpose, going 10-0 up in as many minutes.

Fly-half Gareth Bowen put them ahead with a second-minute penalty before Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel darted over following a further spell of pressure on the Irishmen’s line.

The home side enjoyed a glut of possession and territory in the first half but a combination of poor handling, wrong options and stubborn Connacht defence frustrated the Scarlets’ ambitions.

Then with virtually their first foray into the home 22 since the opening minutes Connacht crossed for a try from lively scrum-half Conor O’Loughlin, with half-back partner Paul Warwick landing the simplest of conversions.

Llanelli did hit back with a second penalty from Bowen on the stroke of half-time, but the champions knew they were in a battle.

Their worries were increased when right wing Ted Robinson sped clear from a ruck seven minutes after the break, with Warwick’s conversion taking the visitors into the lead for the first time.

It then needed some superb defensive work from replacement scrum-half Mike Phillips to deny Connacht a third try as the visitors continued to grow in confidence.

A Bowen penalty reduced the arrears to three points, then with 10 minutes remaining the Scarlets regained the lead with a try from a powerful line-out drive from 15 yards out.

Flanker Dafydd Jones emerged from the pile of bodies to claim the touchdown, but it was a lead that lasted barely five minutes.

Awarded a penalty on halfway, McHugh stepped up and stroked it confidently through the uprights.

Then in injury time flanker Michael Swift added to the home side’s misery with a short-range score to give them a deserved bonus point and deny the Scarlets even the consolation of a losing bonus.