Ulster Rugby vs Llanelli Scarlets

TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION

With one victory and one defeat in the opening rounds of the European Rugby Champions Cup Scarlets are sat in second position in pool three nestled in between current European champions Toulon in pole position and English giants Leicester Tigers in third.

Toulon are four points ahead of Scarlets having secured victory over Scarlets in the first round and Ulster in the second. Scarlets got the opening round of the campaign underway in true Scarlets fashion showing plenty of flair and determination. Scarlets scored two tries in what was a thrilling 80 minutes of rugby, and despite seeing two players sent to the sin bin, the Welsh side showed great tenacity until the final whistle with a late try for winger Kristian Phillips. Scarlets’ second round European Champions Cup clash against Leicester Tigers was an injury ravaged affair even before kick-off with lock Jake Ball pulling up with a hamstring injury in the pre-match warm-up. With Richard Kelly parachuted straight in to the starting XV to replace Ball the Scarlets were keen to get their home crowd firing as Llanelli Male Voice Choir belted out a rendition of Sosban Fach. Scarlets outmuscled the Tigers with scrum half Aled Davies a guiding light in the home victory. With a five point lead at half time Scarlets knew they had their work cut out in the final forty but they kept the Tigers at bay and kept a clean sheet in the second half with Tigers unable to add to their scorecard.

Scrum half Davies crossed for a second try after the hour mark with Shingler adding the conversion. The final ten minutes was a tense affair; thrilling end to end stuff as Scarlets continued to build pressure on the Tigers despite injuries. Injured second row Lewis Rawlins was replaced by winger Jordan Williams and winger Kristian Phillips had to play at 8 in the scrum! The Tigers came back at the Scarlets in the final moments, but the reds put in a massive defensive effort. The dying minutes were frantic, tempers flared, the atmosphere was electric and after what felt like a lifetime of deliberating by the referee the whistle is blown and the victory is secure.

CLUB STATS //Location Llanelli, Wales //Founded 2003 //Ground Parc y Scarlets //Capacity 14,800 //Last Game

Leicester Tigers (H) 15-3 (W) Sat 25th October 2014 // 19:45 //Next Game Ulster Rugby (H) Sun 14th Dec 2014 // 17:15 //Recent Form L W

STAFF // Coach Wayne Pivac // Captain Ken Owens

With four points separating Scarlets and table-toppers

Toulon, the West Wales region are fully aware of the importance of securing strong performances in the back-to-back fixtures over Ulster to keep the campaign alive.

CONTACT Parc y Scarlets Parc Pemberton Llanelli, SA14 9UZ Wales Tel

+44 15 54 78 39 00 +44 15 54 78 39 01

Fax

TICKET OFFICE Tel

+44 15 54 78 39 00

www.scarlets.co.uk

OfficialScarlets

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www. ulster rugby.com

ULSTER RUGBY