28 September 2007; Mike McCarthy wins lineout ball for Connacht. Magners League, Llanelli Scarlets v Connacht, Stradey Park, Llanelli, Wales. Picture credit; Steve Pope / SPORTSFILE

Llanelli Scarlets 34
Connacht 11

Connacht, having travelled to Wales with confidence having won their opening game, fell to a disappointing defeat at Stradey Park on Friday night as Llanelli ran in four tries for a bonus point win.

Connacht failed to make early dominance count with a Tim Donnelly penalty after five minutes all they had to show for a bright start.

But Llanelli put their scrum under huge pressure and the Welsh did not only survive a nervous opening but managed to get on top approaching half-time.

Out-half Rhys Priestland provided the ignition behind the scrum, kicking a fine penalty from the ten metre line to level the match after 25 minutes.

The 20-year old then edged them in front seven minutes later with an effort from the 22. But it was his diagonal break from halfway five minutes before the interval which provided the telling moment of the opening half and with the Llanelli support arriving in numbers, it was moved across the 22 from left to right with full-back Morgan Stoddart feeding Regan King and the former All-Black skirted over.

Priestland added the touchline conversion from the right which saw Llanelli 13-3 in front at the break.

Donnelly gave Connacht hope with a penalty from 35 metres six minutes after the restart but it was Llanelli who responded and had the game wrapped up not long into the final quarter. The experienced Vernon Cooper got their second try after 55 minutes to make it 20-6 and they wrapped up the issue eight minutes later when full-back Morgan Stoddart crossed.

Llanelli:
Tries: King, Cooper, Stoddart, J Davies
Cons: Priestland (4)
Pens: Priestland (2)

Connacht:
Try: Fogarty
Pens: Donnelly (2)

Llanelli Scarlets: M Stoddart; Garan Evans, R King, Gavin Evans, M Watkins; R Priestland, G Cattle; P John, J Hayter, B Broster; V Cooper, A Eustace; D Jones, J Bater, N Thomas. Replacements: D Manu for Broster, 50 mins; L Davies for Cattle, 50 mins; I Thomas for John, 57 mins; J Edwards for Thomas, 57 mins; K Owens for Bayter, 72 mins; J Davies for Stoddart, 78 mins; L Reed for Eustace, 80 mins.

Connacht: P Durcan; O Treviranus, M Deane, A Wynne, D Yapp; T Donnelly, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin (C), R Morris; M Swift, D Gannon; M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: R Loughney for Morris, 22 mins; J Fogarty for Flavin, 50 mins; R Ofisa for O'Connor, 50 mins; J Muldoon for Rigney, 50 mins; K Matthews for Yapp, 50 mins; D Riordan for Durcan, 50 mins; C O'Loughlin for McPhillips, 66 mins.

Referee: A McPherson (Scotland).

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