Pivac Helps Warriors Launch Lewi Cup

Feisty battle for first ownership of Lewi Cup in rain swept Ferryside

This pre season friendly saw the launch of the Lewis Jones Memorial Cup and was just edged by a determined Warriors team. The Cup has been instigated by the Warriors club and will be played for whenever the holders (currently now the Warriors) face another competing club. This way the cup, like it's namesake before, will travel around the local clubs and his memory will live on.

With the start of pre season friendlies, so came the rugby weather with the rain a constant throughout the 80 minutes. Both sides though were keen to get stuck in and a very positive game ensued.

The home side started strongly, good carrying from the forwards and slick passing from the backs stretching the Warriors defence to breaking point with a flowing movement and good interplay seeing them open the scoring in the corner.

Rather against the run of play the Warriors pushed back and some good carrying saw Mark Lewis crash over.
Ferryside were back in front shortly afterwards as both sides attacked at every opportunity. With the Warriors a bit slow to react on occasion, Ferry's fast penalties paid dividends and score two fine tries. Mazy running brought a try for Warriors wing Day but he was upstaged by his fellow wing Sam Huish. In his first rugby match he picked up a kick off and scampered fully 60 meters for a try that ensured the scores were all square at half time.

A few words for Wayne Pivac at half time may have helped the Warriors and in the end they edged another competitive half. Again it was try for try stuff, Ben Phillips and Tony Whittaker powering over foe the Warriors but whilst the attack was sharp, the defence wasn't quite as keen and Ferryside were able to keep neck and neck.

Despite the rain, the close score and the cup being at stack, the game was played in a good spirit throughout. It could well have ended in a draw except for a cheeky blinside flip pass and a sharp finish from Gareth Ladd that saw the Warriors edge through.

Ferryside had their own chances to win the game but couldn't quite get over the line before the final whistle was blown and the Warriors became the first holders of the Lewis Jones Memorial Cup.

Afterwards in the club house, Wayne Pivac, who professed to being impressed with the skill levels in the conditions, named debutant Sam Huish as Man of the Match and as it was a Lewi Cup man, he was given a half a bitter to celebrate. John Horwood then collected the Cup on behalf of the Warriors as so 'Lewi' begins it's travels.

Llanelli Warriors:
Dan John (Gareth Ladd), Sam Huish, Ben Phillips, Ronan Lewis, Simon Day (Tony Whittaker), Jamie Evans, Gwilym Lewis, Mark Lewis, Jason Jenkins (James Duke), Colin Tacon, Andrew Davies, Rhydian Williams (John Horwood), Nathan Lawson (Cpt), Simon Jenkins, Jordan Jones.

Perhaps it was fitting that the Lewi Cup began in such awful weather - it wouldn't have put him off. And that both teams were a little short on players - a proper, grass roots rugby match. Luckily Wayne Pivac came down and added a bit of prestige to the occasion(was going to say glamour, but that wasn't really the case). The Warriors were saved from a coaches row, when Wayne came into the huddle and mildly said "it's going well isn't it". Inspired by this, the Warriors put a good 2nd half together even without fallen comrades Gwil and Dan John.

Simon Day and Tony Whittaker managed to score for both sides while Colin, Ladd and Duchess all helped out Ferryside - Colin typically getting stuck in and enjoying a good battle with Bambi.

The clubhouse afterwards was warmed up by Jason singing and acting as ringmaster with Jumpin John and Bambi ably assisting him. There were also some good Lewi stories to read in the program while Wayne presented Sam Huish with the Lewi Cup Man of the Match pint of bitter. So after Calon Lan (Jason's version), Yellow Submarine and B.A.M.B.I. it was back through the rain to Llanelli and Lewi had made another Kiwi/Wales coach smile - good old Lewi!