1sts
Matches
Sun 07 Oct 2012
LLANELLI WARRIORS RFC
1sts
Tries: J Evans, L JenkinsConversions: S Jenkins
12
5
Swansea Gladiators
Llanelli Warriors 12 Swansea Gladiators 5

Llanelli Warriors 12 Swansea Gladiators 5

Gwilym Lewis7 Oct 2012 - 23:16
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The Warriors resumed their oldest rivalry on Sunday in New Dock Stars when hey hosted the Swansea Gladiators for the 1st time in 4 years.

Time had done nothing to dissipate the passion the fixture has generated over the years with no quarter asked or given. The world’s two oldest integrated sides (both included players with learning difficulties) have a history that goes back 18 years now and this game had as much drama as any of them.
So closely matched were the teams that the 1st half didn’t see a score. Both defences held firm despite some sweeping moves from both sides. The Warriors probably came closest to scoring but couldn’t get through a very committed effort from the Gladiators. It wasn’t one way though and full back Jon Kerr showed some nice skills to save Warriors blushes.
The second half saw a slight rearrangement in the visitor’s backline and they looked more organised and sharper. Their heavy pack rumbled effectively but this time the Warriors matched their efforts in defence with Graham Mosser and Rich Evans leading the aggressive defence.
The fixture has always evoked high passions and tempers threatened to boil on a few occasions with several yellows flourished. Both sides were guilty but for the Warriors it proved crucial, back chat from a penalty taking them to within striking distance and Jamie Evans dashed through to get the breakthough score, nicely improved by Simon Jenkins.
The Gladiators worked hard and put the Warriors under a lot of pressure. They hit back with a move that broke right, Mike Gemine was cut down just short but as it looked that the move was over, vetern Victor ReKear – long a thorn in the Warriors side, popped up to ground the ball. The missed conversion was all that separated the teams and the Warriors nerves were jangled many times as the Gladiators tried to get a second score. A late yellow card reduced them to 14 men for the last 10 minutes but they held strong. Luke Jenkins turned something into nothing when he chased up a kick, it looked to be secured by the Gladiators but Jenkins disarmed him and streaked away for the try.
The Gladiators continued to press right to the end but the Warriors managed to hold on for the win. Only Wales has two integrated rugby teams and these trail blazing clubs again showed that a label need be no barrier to playing hard, passionate full contact rugby with skill and drama. The re match in April will be eagerly awaited.

Llanelli Warriors: Jonathan Kerr (Tony Whittaker), Gareth Ladd (Lee Rowlands), Karl Davies (Luke Jenkins), Ben Phillips (Jamie Evans), Graham Mosser, Jonathan Jones, Dean Gilasbey, Jason Bennett (Mike James), Eric Horridge (Cpt), Richard Evans (Dion Mitchell-Lewis), John Horwood (Darren Pollitt), Chris Hancock, Paul Davies (Chris Edmunds), Simon Jenkins, Gwilym Lewis

Match details

Match date

Sun 07 Oct 2012

Kickoff

14:30
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