1sts
Matches
Sat 16 Mar 2013
Gwlad
5
21
LLANELLI WARRIORS RFC
1sts
Tries: G Ladd, J Evans, K Davies
Warriors Edge Out Gwlad to End Epic Weekend

Warriors Edge Out Gwlad to End Epic Weekend

Gwilym Lewis23 Mar 2013 - 22:56
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The Llanelli Warriors achieved a remarkable 2nd victory in two days when they added the Gwlad Charity Cup to the H Bomb they’d won just 14 hours earlier.

A much smaller squad travelled up to Cardiff for the match and were very pleased to welcome some of their previous evenings opponents from Bradford and Bingley into their ranks for the day. The Yorkshire contignet played a significant role in the victory with barnstorming forward Lee Hainsworth picking up the trophy for Seren Y Gem.

The Gwlad team suffered from several last minute withdrawals but took the field and played a full part in a contest that was only settled in the final 5th of the match. In fact it was the Gwlad XV that started stronger with the forwards winning the early breakdown exchanges. The match settled down quite quickly though with two evenly matched teams looking for an opening.

For the Warriors fly half Stephen John was full of running but veteran centre Gary James steered the ship and gave attacks some direction. Fullermog and East looked dangerous for Gwlad but with neither side looking to kick penalties and everyone working hard in Defence the first half remained scoreless.

Playing up the slope in the second half, the Warriors must have been worried that the previous nights excursions would catch up with them but strength on the bench helped them through whilst Gwlad suffered some crucial injuries.

Derrick Morgan made some hard yards for the Warriors whilst Gwilym Lewis probably edged his battle of the back rows with Sean Quaterley. For Gwlad, Dafydd Oliver produced some interesting handling but the breakthrough still proved elusive.

Eventually the breakthrough came from the Warriors with the backs working quick ball out wide and Karl Davies rounding things off under the posts. Hainsworth added the extras and finally the deadlock was broken. It didn’t look as though it would last long though, Gwlad redoubled their efforts and having waited so long for one score, suddenly there were two as French centre Alix was worked clear. With the conversion going wide though, the Warriors had a narrow lead.

The game entered the final stages still very open. The Warriors changed tactic and kicked more which was dangerous as it released Gwlad’s best runner in full back Leon Donnelly, but good chasing helped them to mainly nullify this threat. Donnelly was unlucky to be involved in the crucial score though when in trying to force a pass it went forward, handled form an offside position, it looked likely that a penalty try might be awarded when Gareth Ladd made certain by pouncing on the loose ball. With the conversion again added there seemed to be little way back for Gwlad and to rub salt into the wound, with the final move of the game and as legs were tiring, scrum half Jamie Evans broke clear to score under the posts, leaving an easy conversion for Michael Steadman to complete the scoring.

A flattering score line then, but an impressive win and more importantly hundreds of pounds raised by the sides for Parkinson’s UK.

Llanelli Warriors: Karl Davies Graham Mosser (Mark Goodwin Michael Steadman) Alun Stephens (George Morris) Gary James Ryan Morgan (Gareth Ladd) Stephen John Jamie Evans Colin Talcon (Dan Bayliss, Kevin Pringle) Eric Horridge (Cpt) Chris Hancock (Lee Hainsworth) John Horwood, Dion Mitchell-Lewis (Darren Pollitt Mike Seignot) Nathan Lawson Derrick Morgan Gwilym Lewis

Match details

Match date

Sat 16 Mar 2013

Kickoff

13:00
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