The opening exchanges were quite tight and pretty uncompromising but as the game went on it became more and more open. The Warriors started stronger with impressive debutant David Jones doing well and some good close running generally. The home side held firm though with a backline of real physicality featuring the George brothers in midfiled.
The Warriors had to look wider for a way through and Man of the Match Graham Mosser showed the way with a scorching try down the left wing. Former Betws player Simon Jenkins got through with a strong run but Betws hit back with Rhys Richard-Evans making up for diving short earlier on.
John Horwood and Cellan Davies battled hard in the line out with honours pretty much even. Jonathan Kerr playing his 100th game for the Warriors had a sharp run from defence and Karl Davies got them further ahead but the Betws backline always looked elusive and often threatened to score.
The tries kept coming, defences tiring in the second half as the scores mounted. Luke Stattford made an immediate impact for Betws, Steffan Griffiths and Daniel Thomas got a brace each but father and son combination Mark and Rob Lewis got three for the Warriors.
Betws got themselves 7 points to the good with time running out when Daniel Madge made the game safe with an excellent snap drop goal. Despite knowing the game was now beyond them as they made the final kick off, the Warriors threw everything into a last effort and were rewarded when centre Jamie Evans hacked through and won the race to the ball. It was perhaps less than the Warriors deserved in such a tight game and no one could have complained if it had ended a draw but it wasn’t to be.
A win to Betws then but plenty of positives for both sides and £100 raised for Betws In Need.
Llanelli Warriors: Jonathan Kerr (Lee Rowlands), Graham Mosser (Gareth Ladd), Jamie Evans (Karl Davies), Alun Stephens, Ryan Morgan (Liam Carpenter), Robert Lewis, Dean Gilasbey, David Jones (Gareth McKibbon, Colin Talcon), Eric Horridge (Dion Mitchell-Lewis), Aled Richards (Mike James, Richard Evans), John Horwood, Chris Hancock (Mark Lewis), Richard Taylor (Nathan Lawson), Simon Jenkins, Gwilym Lewis