2008–09 Scarlets season

April 2022 Scarlets 2008–09 Nigel Davies Stuart Gallacher Celtic League 5th EDF Energy Cup Group stage (2nd) Heineken Cup Group stage (4th) Martin Roberts (6) Morgan Stoddart (7) Stephen Jones (108) Stephen Jones (200) 14,497 vs Barbarians (31 January 2009) 6,041 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.Scarlets drop Llanelli from name https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7610188.stm BBC Sport 2008-09-11 2008-09-13 Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendance23 August 2008BathA16 – 24Try: Higgitt 47' cCon: PriestlandPen: C. Thomas (2) 7', 29', Priestland 45'29 August 2008London WaspsA20 – 17Try: M. Jones 40+4' mPen: 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' cCon: C. Thomas (5)14,49726 March 2009Newport Gwent DragonsA32 – 24Tries: D. Evans (2) 40+3' c, 46' c, C. Thomas 43' cCon: C. Thomas (3)Pen: C. Thomas2,755 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.Ulster 9-16 Scarlets https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/7601410.stm BBC Sport 2008-09-05 2008-09-05 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.Dragons 25-27 Scarlets https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7604786.stm BBC Sport 2008-09-10 2008-09-10 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.Scarlets 45-3 Connacht https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7610791.stm BBC Sport 2008-09-13 2008-09-13 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.Edinburgh 32-12 Scarlets https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/edinburgh/7619357.stm BBC Sport 2008-09-19 2008-09-20 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.Glasgow 34-20 Scarlets https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/glasgow/7630098.stm BBC Sport 2008-09-26 2008-09-27 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.Scarlets 16-18 Munster https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7750812.stm BBC Sport 2008-11-28 2008-11-29 DateOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition5 September 2008UlsterA16 – 9Try: Daniel 22' cCon: S. JonesPen: S. Jones (3) 6', 42', 58'7,3682nd10 September 2008Newport Gwent DragonsA27 – 25Tries: Roberts 53' m, Brew 62' cCon: S. JonesPen: S. Jones (5) 20', 31', 43', 46', 77'5,0572nd13 September 2008ConnachtH45 – 3Tries: Manu (2), J. Davies, Brew, Stoddart (2), M. JonesCon: S. Jones (4), C. Thomas6,0411st19 September 2008EdinburghA12 – 32Tries: Stoddart 56' m, Roberts 79' cCon: C. Thomas2,6552nd26 September 2008Glasgow WarriorsA20 – 34Tries: S. Jones 5' m, M. Jones (2) 20' c, 72' mCon: S. JonesPen: S. Jones 79'2,4503rd28 November 2008MunsterH16 – 18Try: Penalty try 80+4' cCon: PriestlandPen: Priestland (3) 22', 42', 72'8,4366th20 December 2008Cardiff BluesH27 – 13Tries: Roberts 38' m, John 62' cCon: S. JonesPen: S. Jones (5) 9', 32', 72', 80', 80+6'7,6104th27 December 2008OspreysA6 – 20Pen: Priestland (2) 2', 9'20,5204th1 January 2009Newport Gwent DragonsH29 – 24Tries: King 6' c, John 60' cCon: S. Jones (2)Pen: S. Jones (5) 9', 49', 63', 67', 71'7,0503rd9 January 2009ConnachtA17 – 14Tries: Manu 60' c, S. Jones 74' cCon: S. Jones (2)Pen: Priestland 5'2,0633rd21 February 2009LeinsterH17 – 31Tries: Roberts 33' c, Manu 53' cCon: Priestland (2)Pen: Priestland 30'6,4364th8 March 2009EdinburghH13 – 6Tries: D. Evans 5' m, Owens 16' mPen: D. Evans 80+1'6,3024th4 April 2009Glasgow WarriorsH21 – 38Tries: G. Evans 40+1' m, D. Jones 48' cCon: S. Jones (1/2)Pen: S. Jones (3) 18', 27', 40+4'6,1036th18 April 2009OspreysH19 – 28Try: J. Davies 56' cCon: PriestlandPen: Priestland (4) 20', 25', 40+1', 40+3'11,4448th24 April 2009MunsterA10 – 29Try: Roberts 46' cCon: S. JonesPen: Priestland 12'8,0008th8 May 2009LeinsterA8 – 45Try: M. Jones 30' mPen: D. Evans 23'11,1608th13 May 2009Cardiff BluesA30 – 9Tries: Williams (2) 27' m, 63' c, Day 43' m, Daniel 80+1' cCon: S. Jones (2)Pen: Priestland (2) 22', 37'8,2127th16 May 2009UlsterH43 – 17Tries: D. Evans 2' c, Day 17' c, Williams 21' m, Daniel 43' c, Roberts 61' c, Lyons 75' cCon: Priestland (5)Pen: Priestland 13'6,2195th PosClub PldWDLFAPDBPPts4SCO Edinburgh181007380282+9810505WAL Scarlets18909376395−194406WAL 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.Saracens 17-26 Scarlets https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7643127.stm BBC Sport 2008-10-05 2008-10-05 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.Scarlets win on Stradey farewell https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7685886.stm BBC Sport 2008-10-24 2008-10-24 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.James Standley Northampton 33-20 Scarlets https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7695370.stm BBC Sport 2008-11-01 2008-11-01 DateOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendancePoolposition5 October 2008SaracensA26 – 17Tries: Lyons, MeeuwsCon: S. Jones (2)Pen: S. Jones (4)6,0682nd24 October 2008BristolH27 – 0Tries: Stoddart 2' c, Easterby 40+3' c, Higgitt 66' cCon: S. Jones (3)Pen: S. Jones (2) 14', 49'10,5001st1 November 2008Northampton SaintsA20 – 33Tries: King 5' m, Stoddart 8' m, Davies 72' cCon: S. JonesPen: C. Thomas 17'12,0422nd TeamPldWDLFABPPtsNorthampton Saints32018270210Scarlets3201735008Saracens3201746708Bristol3003398111 Heineken Cup DateOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendancePoolposition11 October 2008HarlequinsH22 – 29Tries: Stoddart 1' m, M. Jones 12' mPen: S. Jones (4) 26', 36', 40+4', 51'8,2363rd18 October 2008Stade FrançaisA15 – 37Try: M. Jones 18' m, C. Thomas 75' cCon: C. ThomasPen: S. Jones 14'10,2403rd5 December 2008UlsterA16 – 26Try: C. Thomas 78' cCon: S. JonesPen: S. Jones (3) 10', 28', 47'10,0004th12 December 2008UlsterH16 – 16Try: Daniel 45' cCon: S. JonesPen: S. Jones (3) 17', 53', 77'8,0264th18 January 2009Stade FrançaisH31 – 17Tries: Lyons 3' cDavies (2) 54' m, 70' cCon: S. Jones (2)Pen: S. Jones (4) 8', 13', 31', 59'7,4174th24 January 2009HarlequinsA24 – 29Tries: Stoddart 56' c, Rees 60' c, Evans 80' cCon: S. Jones (3)Pen: S. Jones 11'11,0834th TeamPldWDLTFPFPA+/-BPPtsENG Harlequins650116144115+29222FRA Stade Français630313131109+22315IRE rugby union Ulster 621313113134−21111WAL Scarlets611412124154−3027 Squad statistics Pos.NameMagnersLeagueEDF EnergyCupHeinekenCupTotalDisciplineAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPts13px13pxFBWAL Dan Evans7202016000000000000720201600FBWAL Morgan Stoddart10300015220001042000101670003510WGWAL Nathan Brew3200010100000000000420001000WGWAL Darren Daniel113000150000005100051640002000WGWAL Matthew Jacobs20000010000000000030000000WGWAL Dafydd James30000000000000000030000000WGWAL Mark Jones1140002020000042000101760003000WGWAL Gareth Morris40000000000000000040000000WGFRA Yannick N'Gog10000000000000000010000000CEWAL Jonathan Davies1620001021000542000102250002500CEWAL Gavin Evans9100053000003100051520001000CEWAL Rob Higgitt900000210005200000131000500CENZL Regan King8100053100056000001720001000CEWAL Nick Reynolds20000000000000000020000000FHWAL Stephen Jones122162201083066030607160622122944020000FHWAL Rhys Priestland13091506300000010000014091506300FHWAL Ceiron Thomas70200430010352100121523101900SHWAL Gavin Cattle600000000000400000100000000SHWAL Gareth Davies10000000000000000010000000SHTGA Sililo Martens600000300000300000120000000SHWAL Martin Roberts176000253000006000002620002510SHWAL Lee Williams63000150000004000001130001500PRWAL Craig Cross20000000000000000020000000PRWAL Aled Hopkins10000000000000000010000000PRWAL Phil John162000103000005000002420001000PRFIJ Deacon Manu144000200000004000001840002000PRNZL Kees Meeuws600000310005200000111000500PRWAL Scott Roberts10000000000000000010000000PRWAL Iestyn Thomas1500000300000500000230000000HKWAL Ken Owens1410005300000600000231000500HKWAL Emyr Phillips10000000000000000010000000HKWAL Matthew Rees1300000300000610005221000510HKSAM Mahonri Schwalger50000000000000000050000000LKWAL Vernon Cooper1500000200000500000220000000LKWAL Dominic Day142000102000005000002120001000LKSCO Scott MacLeod30000010000020000060000000LKNZL Simon Maling40000010000020000070000000LKWAL Lou Reed1400000000000000000140000000LKWAL Aaron Shingler40000000000000000040000000FLWAL James Bater00000000000000000000000000FLIRE rugby union Simon Easterby1100000310005500000191000500FLWAL Johnathan Edwards800000100000300000120000000FLWAL Dafydd Jones1110005200000500000181000500FLWAL Rob McCusker80000000000000000080000000FLWAL Gavin Thomas50000020000020000090000000FLWAL Josh Turnbull900000100000300000130000000N8AUS David Lyons18100053100056100052730001500N8WAL Nathan Thomas30000020000010000060000000 Transfers In Date Pos. Name From 5 February 2008 LK NZL Simon Maling Suntory Sungoliath 20 March 2008 SH TGA Sililo Martens Sale Sharks 20 March 2008 CE WAL Rob Higgitt Bristol 27 March 2008 SH WAL Martin Roberts Ospreys 2 May 2008 N8 AUS David Lyons Waratahs 18 May 2008 PR NZL Kees Meeuws Castres Out Date Pos. Name To 15 February 2008 SH WAL Dwayne Peel Sale Sharks 14 March 2008 HK ENG James Hayter Released 14 March 2008 PR WAL Ian Jones Released 14 March 2008 HK WAL Daniel George Released 14 March 2008 WG WAL Alec Jenkins Released 14 March 2008 CE WAL Rhys Williams Released 14 March 2008 CE WAL Rhys O. Williams Released 2 May 2008 N8 WAL Alix Popham Brive 12 May 2008 CE WAL Matthew Watkins Gloucester 20 May 2008 PR SCO Bruce Douglas Released 20 May 2008 PR WAL Ben Broster Released 20 May 2008 LK ENG Adam Eustace Released 10 June 2008 FB WAL Garan Evans Retired 28 June 2008 SH WAL Liam Davies Brive 30 November 2008 WG WAL Nathan Brew Released 29 January 2009 LK SCO Scott MacLeod Released 19 February 2009 SH TON Sililo Martens Released 14 March 2009 FL WAL James Bater Retired 30 March 2009 LK NZL Simon Maling Released 30 March 2009 FL WAL Gavin Thomas Released References 2008-09 Category:2008–09 Celtic League by team Category:2008–09 in Welsh rugby union Category:2008–09 Heineken Cup by team