Llanelli Scarlets season 2007-08

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Llanelli Scarlets
Season 2007–08
Head coach Phil Davies (until 30 April 2008)
Paul Moriarty (caretaker, since 30 April 2008)
Chairman Stuart Gallacher
League Magners League
Final league position 6th
EDF Energy Cup Group stage
Heineken Cup Group stage
Top try scorer League: Regan King (7)
All: Regan King (9)
Top points scorer League: Rhys Priestland (107)
All: Stephen Jones (128)
Highest home attendance 10,739 vs Ospreys (27 December 2007)
Lowest home attendance 5,923 vs Newport Gwent Dragons (1 September 2007)

The 2007–08 season was the fifth in the history of the Llanelli Scarlets regional side. The season saw the Scarlets compete in three competitions: the Magners League, the EDF Energy Cup and the Heineken Cup. It was also likely the last full season for the Scarlets in their historic home, Stradey Park. A new ground, Parc y Scarlets, was under construction during that season, and is scheduled to open in November 2008, early in the 2008-09 season.

On the whole, the season was regarded as a disappointment by pundits and fans alike, as the team failed to qualify from the group stage in either the EDF Energy Cup or the Heineken Cup, even failing to pick up any points from any of their six Heineken Cup matches. The team's league form started off much better, remaining around second place for much of the first half of the season. However, as teams began to get players back from World Cup duty, the Scarlets' league form began to suffer, winning just two games in 2008, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the Magners League. These failures were largely blamed on the team's failure to strengthen the squad sufficiently the previous summer and resulted in coach Phil Davies departing the club.

Welsh internationals Dwayne Peel, Alix Popham and Matthew Watkins also agreed deals to move away from Stradey Park at the end of the season, while Mahonri Schwalger was signed on a short-term contract mid-season to cover for the injured Ken Owens. Other big-name signings in summer 2007 included Welsh internationals Ben Broster and Nathan Brew, as well as Scottish prop Bruce Douglas and English front-five forwards Adam Eustace and James Hayter.

Contents

[edit] Pre-season and friendlies

The Scarlets prepared for the 2007–08 campaign with two pre-season friendly matches in August. The first friendly was away to the Exeter Chiefs on 18 August 2007, and gave the Scarlets an opportunity to give debuts to their three new front row players, James Hayter, Bruce Douglas and Ben Broster. Exeter had a pair of ex-Scarlets in their team, in the form of Clive Stuart-Smith and Craig Dunlea, but their knowledge of the Scarlets was not enough to prevent a 19–14 win for the Llanelli side.

The next friendly was against Bath at Stradey Park on 25 August 2007. The Scarlets took a 14–7 lead before half-time, and went 17–7 up within the first five minutes of the second half. However, there were to be no further scores for the home side, as Bath scored two more tries to win the game 21–17.

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A		 Scorers Attendance
18 August 2007 Exeter Chiefs A 19 – 14 Tries: Daniel, Bater, John
Con: Priestland, C. Thomas
25 August 2007 Bath H 17 – 21 Tries: Daniel 2' c, King 32' c
Con: C. Thomas (2)
Pen: C. Thomas 44'

[edit] Magners League

Date Opponents H / A Result

F – A

 Scorers Attendance League

position
1 September 2007 Newport Gwent Dragons H 23 – 30 Tries: Gar. Evans 44' c, I. Thomas 50' c
Con: C. Thomas (2)
Pen: C. Thomas (3) 20', 55', 65'		 5,923 4th
11 September 2007 Ospreys A 14 – 9 Try: Eustace 45' m
Pen: C. Thomas (3) 2', 64', 74'		 10,143 2nd
22 September 2007 Munster A 16 – 26 Try: Watkins 64' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (3) 8', 35', 63'		 3,400 2nd
28 September 2007 Connacht H 34 – 11 Tries: King 36' c, Cooper 55' c, Stoddart 62' c, J. Davies 80+1' c
Con: Priestland (4)
Pen: Priestland (2) 27', 33'		 6,560 2nd
5 October 2007 Leinster A 52 – 23 Tries: Watkins 3' c, Bater 49' c, Edwards (2) 53' m, 59' c, King 56' c, Stoddart 80' c
Con: Priestland (5)
Pen: Priestland (4) 13', 22', 32', 51'		 9,439 2nd
12 October 2007 Ulster H 32 – 8 Tries: Watkins 22' c, Edwards 35' m, Manu 40' c, M. Jones 51' c
Con: Priestland (3)
Pen: Priestland (2) 18', 72'		 6,200 2nd
25 November 2007 Edinburgh A 17 – 27 Tries: King (3) 15' m, 38' c, 49' m
Con: Priestland		 1,638 2nd
27 December 2007 Ospreys H 17 – 12 Tries: G. Thomas 16' c, Brew 49' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones 48'		 10,739 4th
1 January 2008 Newport Gwent Dragons A 13 – 15 Try: Penalty try 33' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (2) 6', 58'		 6,702 3rd
4 January 2008 Connacht A 18 – 20 Pen: Priestland (6) 14', 22', 49', 67', 73', 80' 1,681 4th
15 February 2008 Glasgow Warriors H 30 – 7 Tries: Cattle 24' c, King 36' m, 76' m, Priestland 50' m, I. Thomas 61' m
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland 13'		 6,190 2nd
29 February 2008 Ulster A 8 – 20 Try: Priestland 64' m
Pen: Priestland 39'		 8,869 2nd
21 March 2008 Cardiff Blues H 35 – 17 Tries: I. Thomas 11' m, Gav. Evans 21' c, Peel 57' c, James 73' c
Con: S. Jones (3)
Pen: S. Jones (3) 38', 54', 71'		 8,445 2nd
29 March 2008 Leinster H 10 – 24 Try: D. Jones 52' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones 16'		 7,407 4th
11 April 2008 Cardiff Blues A 26 – 35 Tries: Peel 4' c, J. Davies 6' c, M. Jones 52' m, Stoddart 54' c
Con: S. Jones (3)		 10,216 4th
18 April 2008 Glasgow Warriors A 23 – 25 Tries: Stoddart (2) 42' c, 53' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (3) 11', 33', 61'		 2,012 5th
3 May 2008 Munster H 23 – 24 Tries: James 28' c, Watkins 31' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (3) 6', 23', 57'		 7,020 6th
10 May 2008 Edinburgh H 12 – 29 Tries: Schwalger 14' c, James 77' m
Con: Priestland		 7,338 6th


Pos Club Pld W D L F A PD BP Pts
5 Glasgow Warriors 18 10 1 7 340 349 −9 4 46
6 Llanelli Scarlets 18 7 0 11 403 362 +41 11 39
7 Ospreys 18 6 1 11 321 255 +66 11 37

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

[edit] EDF Energy Cup

Date Opponents H / A Result

F – A

 Scorers Attendance Group

position
26 October 2007 Bristol A 11 – 18 Try: Stoddart 80+1' m
Pen: Priestland 4', S. Jones 43'		 7,139 3rd
2 November 2007 Leeds Carnegie H 59 – 19 Tries: D. Evans (2) 3' c, 67' c, Bater 10' c, M. Jones 16' c, Popham 38' c
I. Thomas 51' c, MacLeod 59' c, Easterby 64' c
Con: S. Jones (8)
Pen: S. Jones 26'		 7,672 2nd
1 December 2007 Saracens H 36 – 32 Tries: MacLeod 35' c, S. Jones 43' c, J. Davies 51' m, Gar. Evans 55' m
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones (4) 10', 16', 40', 62'		 6,625 2nd


Team Pld W D L F A BP Pts
Saracens 3 2 0 1 123 79 4 12
Llanelli Scarlets 3 2 0 1 106 69 3 11
Bristol 3 1 1 1 46 69 0 6
Leeds Carnegie 3 0 1 2 60 118 1 3

[edit] Heineken Cup

Date Opponents H / A Result

F – A

 Scorers Attendance Group

position
11 November 2007 ASM Clermont Auvergne A 21 – 48 Tries: James 18' c, Peel 52' c, King 54' c
Con: S. Jones (3)		 13,000 4th
17 November 2007 London Wasps H 17 – 33 Tries: Easterby 24' c, M. Jones 79' c
Con: S. Jones (2)
Pen: S. Jones 34'		 9,557 4th
8 December 2007 Munster H 16 – 29 Try: King 24' c
Con: Priestland
Pen: Priestland (3) 20', 51', 59'		 10,456 4th
16 December 2007 Munster A 13 – 22 Try: S. Jones 11' c
Con: S. Jones
Pen: S. Jones (2) 49', 63'		 13,200 4th
13 January 2008 London Wasps A 7 – 40 Try: Manu 33' c
Con: Priestland		 8,173 4th
19 January 2008 ASM Clermont Auvergne H 0 – 41 6,491 4th


Team Pld W D L TF PF PA +/- BP Pts
Flag of Ireland Munster (6) 6 4 0 2 13 148 95 +53 3 19
Flag of France Clermont 6 4 0 2 22 189 128 +61 3 19
Flag of England London Wasps 6 4 0 2 19 152 127 +25 2 18
Flag of Wales Llanelli Scarlets 6 0 0 6 8 74 213 −139 0 0

[edit] Squad statistics

Pos. Name Magners
League		 EDF Energy
Cup		 Heineken
Cup		 Total Discipline
A T C P D Pts A T C P D Pts A T C P D Pts A T C P D Pts
FB Flag of Wales Garan Evans 7 1 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
FB Flag of Wales Morgan Stoddart 16 5 0 0 0 25 2 1 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 23 6 0 0 0 30 1 0
WG Flag of Wales Nathan Brew 10 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
WG Flag of Wales Darren Daniel 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
WG Flag of Wales Daniel Evans 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
WG Flag of Wales Dafydd James 9 3 0 0 0 15 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 13 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
WG Flag of Wales Mark Jones 6 2 0 0 0 10 3 1 0 0 0 5 5 1 0 0 0 5 14 4 0 0 0 20 2 0
CE Flag of Wales Jonathan Davies 6 2 0 0 0 10 1 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 10 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
CE Flag of Wales Gavin Evans 14 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 21 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
CE Flag of New Zealand Regan King 16 7 0 0 0 35 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 10 23 9 0 0 0 45 0 0
CE Flag of Wales Matthew Watkins 13 4 0 0 0 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 18 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
FH Flag of Wales Stephen Jones 6 0 13 11 0 59 3 1 10 6 0 43 3 1 6 3 0 26 12 2 29 20 0 128 0 0
FH Flag of Wales Rhys Priestland 13 2 17 21 0 107 1 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 2 3 0 13 17 2 19 25 0 123 0 0
FH Flag of Wales Ceiron Thomas 9 0 2 6 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 2 6 0 22 0 0
SH Flag of Wales Gavin Cattle 14 1 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 17 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
SH Flag of Wales Liam Davies 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SH Flag of Wales Dwayne Peel 6 2 0 0 0 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 5 13 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
PR Flag of Wales Ben Broster 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
PR Flag of Scotland Bruce Douglas 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR Flag of Wales Phil John 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR Flag of Fiji Deacon Manu 12 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 5 21 2 0 0 0 10 1 0
PR Flag of Wales Iestyn Thomas 15 3 0 0 0 15 2 1 0 0 0 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 23 4 0 0 0 20 1 0
HK Flag of Wales Daniel George 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK Flag of England James Hayter 8 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK Flag of Wales Ken Owens 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK Flag of Wales Matthew Rees 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
HK Flag of Samoa Mahonri Schwalger 7 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
LK Flag of Wales Vernon Cooper 14 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
LK Flag of Wales Dominic Day 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK Flag of England Adam Eustace 11 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 20 1 0 0 0 5 1 0
LK Flag of Scotland Scott MacLeod 10 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 10 6 0 0 0 0 0 19 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
LK Flag of Wales Lou Reed 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FL Flag of Wales James Bater 15 1 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 19 2 0 0 0 10 2 0
FL Flag of Ireland Simon Easterby 9 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 5 5 1 0 0 0 5 17 2 0 0 0 10 1 0
FL Flag of Wales Jonathan Edwards 5 3 0 0 0 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
FL Flag of Wales Dafydd Jones 16 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 22 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL Flag of Wales Gavin Thomas 6 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL Flag of Wales Josh Turnbull 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
N8 Flag of Wales Alix Popham 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 5 2 0
N8 Flag of Wales Nathan Thomas 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[edit] Transfers

[edit] In

Date Pos. Name From
2007-05-17 PR Flag of Wales Ben Broster Saracens
2007-06-01 WG Flag of Wales Nathan Brew Newport Gwent Dragons
2007-06-01 LK Flag of England Adam Eustace Gloucester
2007-06-19 PR Flag of Scotland Bruce Douglas Border Reivers
2007-07-20 HK Flag of England James Hayter Harlequins
2008-01-16 HK Flag of Samoa Mahonri Schwalger Wellington Lions[1]

[edit] Out

Date Pos. Name To
2007-06-01 SH Flag of England Clive Stuart-Smith Exeter Chiefs
2007-06-01 PR Flag of Wales John Davies Retired
2007-06-04 PR Flag of New Zealand Craig Dunlea Exeter Chiefs
2007-06-05 PR Flag of Wales Hugh Gustafson Newport Gwent Dragons
2007-06-14 FB Flag of Wales Barry Davies Brive
2007-06-21 LK Flag of Tonga Inoke Afeaki Grenoble
2007-06-22 LK Flag of Wales Adam Jones Newport Gwent Dragons
2007-07-27 FL Flag of Wales Jonathan Mills London Welsh
2007-07-27 HK Flag of Wales Aled Gravelle Waterloo

[edit] Loan out

Date From Date To Position Name To
2007-12-18 2008-01-18 LK Flag of Wales Lou Reed Rotherham[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Davies rules out King departure", BBC Sport, 2008-01-16. Retrieved on 2008-02-18. 
  2. ^ "Reed joins Rotherham in loan deal", BBC Sport, 2007-12-20. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.