Connacht 33 - 19 Scarlets
18 February 2006


In February 2006 an understrength Scarlets paid their first visit to the Sportsground. Scarlets had enjoyed victory against their Irish hosts 25-17 at the Racecourse Ground in September and all form suggested they would record another win.

Connacht were in the middle of a dismal season and had recorded a mere 10 points after 11 games. However, throughout a miserable season Paul Warwick had provided the loyal Connacht support with sprinklings of quality that made the trip to the Sportsground worthwhile and February 18th was one of the days when he showed his undoubted class.

The game kicked off in unseasonably sunny weather in front of a small crowd (much smaller crowd than the 2300 attendance given on the league website). Despite 4 penalties from Paul Warwick, tries from Darren Daniel and Regan King on 18 and 40 minutes saw the visitors leading 16-12 at half time with Connacht staring down the barrel of yet another defeat to follow on from an embarrassing Challenge Cup loss away to Catania weeks earlier.

However, Connacht upped the ante after the break and tries from hard working number 8 Colm Rigney and a smart individual try from Paul Warwick turned the game in Connacht's favour. Gareth Bowen kept the visitors in touch with a penalty but just three minutes after his introduction in place of Paul Warwick at out half, David Slemen sealed victory with a try which he converted himself. Connacht pushed hard for a much needed bonus point but a sin-binning for replacement hooker Joe Merrigan made the task too difficult.

The win lifted Connacht spirits and provided the fillip for Connacht to put together a few wins to make the final table look slightly more respectable while Scarlets campaign petered out to a disappointing mid table finish.

The Connacht Team that lined out was as follows:

15) Matt Mostyn
14) Darren Yapp
13) Andrew Mailei
12) Keith Matthews
11) Conor Mcphilips
10) Paul Warwick
9) Chris Keane
1) Ray Hogan
2) John Fogarty
3) Adrian Clarke
4) Dave Gannon
5) Andrew Farley
6) John Muldoon
7) Brendan O'Connor
8) Colm Rigney

16) Joe Merrigan
17) Dan McFarland
18) Andrew Gallagher
19) Matt Lacey
20) Tom Tierney
21) David Slemen