McHugh destroys Llanelli's invincibility

Llanelli 12 Connacht 14

The Scarlets' unbeaten run this season ended spectacularly on their beloved Stradey Park as a gutsy Connacht side powered their way to the upset of the season.

The Llanelli side were unbackable favourites on their home turf, but a gritty Connacht team shattered the 5,000-strong crowd's hopes as the full-back, Mark McHugh, scored all 14 points.

The home side's fly-half, Gareth Bowen, had two shots at goal in the final minutes as well as a dropped goal attempt but all went wide and Connacht secured a place in the Celtic Cup semi-finals.

The Scarlets opened the scoring in the 12th minute when a beautiful skip pass from Matthew Watkins found the winger Salesi Finau, and the Tongan pushed off Matt Mostyn to score in the corner for his first try of the season.

The visiting full-back, Mark McHugh, levelled the scores after the Irish side's back-rowers made excellent ground up the middle, with the Scottish referee, Greg Davis, ignoring a pass that was line-ball at best and signalling the try.

The Connacht prop Ray Hogan looked to have barged his way over to give his side a shock half-time lead, but Davis ruled that he had been held up, much to the bemusement of the Irish side, and the sides went into the break at 5-5.

Bowen had the chance to give his side the lead against the run of play, but his penalty attempt was left of the uprights for one of the first times this season.

His humour did not improve when his clearing kick was charged down, and only some classy defensive play from the skipper, Leigh Davies, kept the Irish side out.

The home side finally edged ahead in the 52nd minute when the Connacht winger Conor McPhillips was sin-binned for taking out Watkins without the ball. The scrum-half, Dale Burn, scored from the ensuing close-range lineout.

McHugh added three penalty goals to take a two-point lead, and the visiting fans were left to rejoice as Bowen's three injury-time attempts at goal all went wide.

* Bridgend yesterday claimed they have agreed a deal to buy out Celtic Warriors partners Pontypridd.

Llanelli Scarlets: Tries S Finau, D Burn; Con G Bowen. Connacht: Try M McHugh; Pens M McHugh (3).

Llanelli Scarlets: B Davies, Selley, Watkins, L Davies, Finau, G Bowen, Burn, John, R Williams, J Davies, Griffiths, A Jones, Cooper, I Boobyer, E Lewis. Substitutes: Maddocks, Yelland, G Quinnell, G Williams, Phillips, C Thomas, Rees.

Connacht: McHugh, Mostyn, Yapp, T Allnut, McPhillips, Hewitt, Walls, Hogan, Jackman, Boiroux, Browne, Farley, Neville, Carter, O'Sullivan. Substitutes: Fogarty, Clarke, McCarthey, Lacey, Keane, Moore, Robinson.

Referee: Greg Davies (SRU).