The day after the Welsh national team succumbed to England, the clash was played out in miniature at Burry Port RFC where the Llanelli Warriors hosted the Bumble Bee barbarians for the 5th H Bomb Trophy. Both sides are integrated teams, they include players with learning difficulties and with respective wins over the Swansea Gladiators and Halifax Magpies, had legitimate claims to being their nation’s best.

With all recent matches having been well attended it was no surprise that the Warriors had a large squad but the Bumbles had assembled their largest touring team to date as they attempted to be the first team to win away from home.

Always keenly contested, the passions were further pumped with rousing renditions of the anthems and vocal support from the large crowd and the game was frantic from the kick off. Perfect conditions saw plenty of ambition from both sides and all players got opportunities to show their abilities in an open game. Matthew Symes set a marker for the physicality of the match with a move stopping early hit and it wasn’t a place for the faint hearted as the packs got to grips with each other.

The Bumbles probably edged territory in the first quarter but the Warriors threatened to score more often with several sweeping moves. As the half wore on they managed to finish with two long range efforts from Jamie Evans and Luke Jenkins supplemented with Simon Jenkins conversions.

The Bumbles ended the half strongly though with Cookson going close as the Warriors put bodies on the line and just about held firm. Captain Davies was a beacon in the lineouts and Tony Whittaker did well for the home team but the Bumbles backline with Daryl Wilson and Stephen Rhodes looking sharp deserved more for their efforts.

The second half saw a good mix of rugby and plenty of incidents. It was no surprise that the Bumbles did soon cross through playmaker Ryan Wilson but the Warriors matched that with Luke Jenkins’ second. Alun Stephens got a brace for the Warriors, the first a real attritional effort from the forwards, the 2nd ending a flowing move and a great slight of hand from Lee Rowlands. Simon Jenkins slotted a penalty for the Warriors before transgressing himself and getting a yellow card as tempers boiled over. This was in an incredible period of Bumbles pressure and with man of the match Darren Pollitt leading the way they rained the tackles in. Cookson (again) and Bumbles best player and tour Captain Martin Sands were judged to have been held up from powerful drives. The Bumbles deserved something though and they scored the try of the game when hands across the line saw Ross Mcurich given room to round his man and cross. Still there were incidents, Mcurich putting in two great hits within seconds of each other, Lee Hainsworth driving close to a third Bumbles score, Eric Horridge knocking on with the line at his mercy and Rhydian Williams getting a touch line conversion to cap his best performance in a Warriors shirt with 4 big tackles. Paul Wyatt was just short or the Bumbles whilst for the Warriors Meredith Pugh looked menacing. The score line flattering the Warriors then but no complaints as the Warriors claimed the H Bomb trophy 2015.

Opposing directors of rugby Mark Goodwin (Bumbles) and Gwilym Lewis (Warriors) were full of praise for their teams in a full bloodies encounter that was as good a game as one could hope to watch. The teams are next set to meet in the Mixed Ability World Tournament in Bradford just prior to the rugby world cup and on this showing it would be no surprise if the teams met in the final.

Llanelli Warriors: James Jefferies (Lee Rowlands), Ryan Morgan (David Carpenter, Simon Day), Dion Mitchell-Lewis, Ben Winstanley, Tony Whittaker (Ben Kitson), Jamie Evans (Alun Stephens), Luke Jenkins, Colin Talcon (Meredith Pugh, Chris Hancock), John Horwood (Rob Hughes, Rhydian Williams), Andrew Davies (cpt) (Darren Pollitt), Matthew Symes (Ben Phillips, Alun Stephens), Simon Jenkins, Gwilym Lewis(Martin Pickett).

Referee: Derrick Morgan, Match Sponsors: RDH Contractors

Too much to get everything into the match report - from the advancing anthem to Ben's birthday bash it was a great game to be involved in. Tony's penalty attempt from almost the half way, Darren Polly ripping and driving forward - and so on. Afterwards there were great speeches from Kev, Anthony (Bumbles) and Andrew Bambi (Warriors) and the Warriors won the drinking (even with Gooders on their team), Ben Win enjoyed a good birthday and there were various shenanigans in the clubhouse, on the train, and at various points throughout Llanelli leading to the Diplomat.

Please comment with your memories.

John Ashton came on he Bumbles trip, here are some thoughts and pictures: http://www.ickledotco.co.uk/2015/02/magical-moments-in-wales/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ickledot/sets/72157650704738201/