1sts
Matches
Tue 27 Jun 2017
College Rifles RFC
30
35
LLANELLI WARRIORS RFC
1sts
Tries: C 'Shed' James (2), N Murphy, T Edwards, T Ashour, S Day
Warriors Save best to last to ensure 100% record.

Warriors Save best to last to ensure 100% record.

Gwilym Lewis3 Jul 2017 - 21:37
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The Warriors stretched their unbeaten run in New Zealand to an impressive 7 matches with an superb performance at College Rifles.

After losing in Samoa the Warriors returned to Auckland looking to extend their 100% record in New Zealand.

The Rifles Crocs side was boosted by several members of the South Auckland Kiwis club whilst the Warriors suffered the blow of having veteran Colin Tacon unavailable due to a nasty cold.

The Warriors had played well all tour but saved their best performance for this final game. After the haka and another response of Hen Wlad Fy'n Hadau, the Warriors played dynamic rugby that stunned their hosts.

Simon Day scored his 4th try of the tour to settle the nerves and the Warriors were quickly into their stride in both attack and defense. Craig James was a live wire at scrum half and crossed next and was followed by Nathan Murphy. It wasn't just in attack though, Andrew Davies ruled the lineouts and there was another big shift put in in defense with Rich Hapus, Ben Kitson and Jamie Evans getting stuck in.

After the break the Rifles stepped up their game and slowly started to eat into the Warriors lead. The scores got closer but the Warriors managed to stay ahead. Tom Ashour was rewarded for good support play after an excellent run by Ben Win, Craig James scored a second and Tom Edwards crossed. The Rifles though more than matched this and got within a try as the clock ticked down. Home player turned Warriors Ratcliffe finished off some good approach work from Lee Rowlands to make the game safe but the Rifles had a deserved final word when they scored with the final move of the game, an impressive driving maul marching relentlessly to the line.

It was a fine consultation effort though with the final whistle confirming that the Warriors had achieved a second unbeaten tour of New Zealand with the impressive Tomos Hall named Man of the Match.

Warriors: Tom Edwards, Simon Day , Nathan Murphy (Gordon Lyons), Ben Winstanley (Lee Rowlands), Ben Kitson (Tom Ashour), Jamie Evans (Gary James), Craig James, Huw Jenkins, Richard Evans (Cpt), Mark Lewis (Neil Roberts), John Horwood (Zander Lamb), Andrew Davies , Nathan Lawson (Jordan Jones), Tom Hall (Gareth Gravell), Gwilym Lewis

A great way to finish off the tour with a great welcome on and off the field. The win was all the more impressive as several players were feeling the effects of a sickness bug that saw sales of Imodium to go through the roof. The rest of the night was spent watching the Lions draw with the Hurricanes, swopping shirts and singing awful songs (Copacabana and Yellow Submarine).

Match details

Match date

Tue 27 Jun 2017

Kickoff

15:00
Team overview
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