Pontefract edge 2nd tour match

Pontefract 29 Llanelli Warriors 20

Ever keen for rugby, the Llanelli Warriors played two matches in two days on their recent Yorkshire tour, but like the previous evening in Bradford, they were just short of a victory at Pontefract.
The home side are keen to investigate the concept of integrated rugby and so included some players whose previous involvement in rugby had been to help the staff. They also included some guest players from Halifax Magpies.
Definitely a friendly, the bright sunshine encouraged both sides to play a wide open game and keep a decent crowd entertained. There was a battle royal on the wings where Simon Day, Rich Llewelyn and (Man of the Match) Tom Ashour had to go through all their skills, both attack and defence, in a busy match.
The Warriors 1st try though was pure forwards, Mark Lewis crashing over from a 5m line out. As with the previous evenings match, it was try for try with Lewis’ effort sandwiched by to Pontefract scores. Flanker Ahsan Sakandar scored off the back of a scrum but the Warriors were missing their front line kickers with Captain Huw Jenkins and Andrew Davies both unable to improve scores.

The 2nd half was much of the same, Harry McAllistair the pick of the home players, Zak Hopkins going well in the Warriors pack. With ref Hargreaves encouraging a flowing game and a good wide field, more scores were inevitable. Pontefract went further ahead but a blistering try from wing Ashour kept them in touch.
Pontefract replied with a great cross kick score but as the game neared a conclusion Andrew Davies scored a great try handing off and stepping through a clutch of would be tacklers. 4 all on tries but 4 points adrift the Warriors, despite the rigours of the previous night’s game and touring, pushed hard but again a try right on the whistle denied them as Pontefract sealed the match with another fine effort.

Despite their disappointment at the score, the Warriors knew they had played well and showed integrated rugby in a good light.

Warriors: Craig James, Simon Day (Richard Llewelyn), Daniel Cookson, Nathan Murphy, Tom Ashour, Jamie Evans, Gwilym Lewis, Mark Lewis (Jamal Ashour), Dai Haines, Huw Jenkins (Cpt) (Colin Tacon), Darren Pollitt (John Horwood), Andrew Davies, Zak Hopkins, Tom Hall (Ahsan Sakandar), Tom Hall, Liam Tobias.

Additional – with several Warriors dropping out, (Neil Parker adding a classic excuse – “I couldn’t get my contacts in”), and generally a lot of hangovers, the Warriors did well to get a team onto the field. Certainly Zak, Jamal, Sideshow Tom, Tom Hall and Simon Day all stepped up, whilst half backs Gwilym and Jamie played through the injuries. Thankfully a couple of rouge Bumbles in Cookie and Ahsan filled in. With several LD players featuring in the Pontefract side – it was a good day for rugby, and the welcome in the clubhouse afterwards saw one of the loudest renditions of Yellow Submarine seen in a long time. On the downside, Bambi and Flash made two of the worst conversion attempts made in Warriors colours and poor Col was bloodied if unbowed. Plenty of good memories made at Pontefract 