 Llanelli RFC run out for the first game at Parc y Scarlets
Llanelli and Wales legend Phil Bennett says the Scarlets must deliver when they play their first Parc y Scarlets game against Munster on Friday. "I've been around the stadium three or four times, it is a magnificent stadium," Bennett told BBC Sport Wales. "But at the end of the day... you have to produce the quality on the field. "The Scarlets have to have a victory... the Scarlets are struggling in the European Cup... they need to get some victories under their belt."  | 606: DEBATE |
The Magners League clash with Heineken Cup champions Munster is expected to attract a 9,000 crowd to the �23m, 15,000 capacity Llanelli stadium. The Scarlets ended 129 years of history at their aged and beloved Stradey Park on 24 October with a 27-0 EDF Energy Cup win over Bristol. "I was at Stradey [on Thursday] picking some jerseys up... the place is being taken down bit by bit," said Bennett. "You have to move on, as much as you loved Stradey... now you must sort of embrace Parc y Scarlets with its fantastic facilities." | PARC Y SCARLETS FACTFILE Four stands Ten months to build 15 hospitality boxes named after Scarlets legends Statue of Ray Gravell to be unveiled in 2009 |
The new arena has already hosted a Welsh Premiership game, Llanelli RFC defeating Cardiff 32-3 on 15 November. A Rhys Priestland kick was the first score at the ground, the fly-half scoring 22 points as the league leaders put their visitors to the sword. Centre Jon Davies had the honour of the first try in front of the 4,800 crowd, Simon Gardner also crossing late on. The Blue and Blacks' only reply was an early Lee Jarvis penalty. "It's always nice to get over in any game, but in such a special game... I will always remember this as a really proud moment," said try-scorer Davies. "It was a perfect performance for the new stadium. This is a world-class facility and it needed that performance. "There was a tremendous atmosphere, it was exciting to play before a crowd like that." Parc y Scarlets is claimed to boast the first rugby surface in the UK to use fibre elastic reinforcing technology combined with natural grass, said to create a spongy surface with less of a risk of causing cuts and other injuries. But amongst the new technology, there are also reminders of the past from Stradey Park including the famous scoreboard, clock and entrance gates.
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