Warriors Win in 1st Match with Betws

For Official match report see photos - this is the version that appeared in a Llanelli Match program and was also carried by local press.

A significant match in the Warriors history for several reasons.
It was the 1st match with Betws, the 2nd established rugby club to play the Warriors and like Burry Port and Cefneithin, a fixture that has been a constant for the clubs.
It was the 1st time a match program was produced - Heol Goffa's photo copier working over time with various cut up pictures glued into place.
It was the 1st time the Warriors had played "alongside" a Wales fixture. Whilst the rest of the country ground to a halt for the 6 Nations, it was noticeable to some of the Warriors that a lot of the boys with learning difficulties would watch the game at home with parents rather than down the rugby club with mates, yet alone at the game. Some didn't even watch the match. The break in fixtures for regular clubs also afforded the chance to play them in a friendly. So this was the 1st of the Warriors International day fixtures.

As Gary had been the connection with Burry Port, so Gwilym filled that role with Betws.
On this occasion, Gwilym travelled down with the Betws team and therefore had to try and organise both sides, the Betws XV(!) causing more issues on the day.
Kick off had to be delayed for Betws to sort out a team which eventually contained the bus driver Anthony. A very young Ryan Davies and Gareth Lewis also made debuts for Betws. Peter Morris, although mentioned in the review, didn't play and Betws borrowed Mike Esney from the Warriors.
Gary James reffed the match and instead of the usual coin toss asked the respective captains to guess the colour of his pants.
Colin Downey, the Trimsaran 2nd row played at outside half and used his foot og height advantage over Rob Holmes to good effect. Rob even swopped places with hooker Steve Bach but lost the ball against the head (and then of course blamed the scrum half).
Barry Hale was unfit to play for Betws and even struggled to run the line.
Trevor Morris suffered a broken ankle and after walking to casualty didn't play again for 7 years (Chris Bonar took the blame - much to his delight).
The other main casualty was Gareth Lewis who had to go off and be sick following a tackle from his brother Gwilym. Gareth concedes that these facts are chronologically correct but insists that they are unrelated.
Can't remember for certain but I think Walley's try was a hand over the line once Barry had crossed. Barry had his debut pint alongside Rob Bevan who was named Seren y Gem.

After the match both teams joined Llanelli Youth XV (inc Betws player Arwel Davies) and their opponents in the Social club to watch Scotland v Wales.
It was Graham Henry's 1st 6 Nations match and famously Scotland scored an early try. Warrior in waiting Adrian Payne always likes to back a winner and has a habit of cheering for whoever scores 1st. On this occasion he almost got lynched striding up and down the bar in a shocked and hushed clubhouse with 4 stunned Welsh rugby teams.
Anyway, it wasn't to be for Wales that day as they never quite recovered but at least all the Warriors had the chance to experience it properly and of course there was then the general move back to the Killkenney Cat and the bright lights of town.

The photo shows the remnants of Betws team: Gareth Lewis, Doug Robinson, Barry Hale (touch judge), Robert Holmes, Stuart Walters (Cpt), Gwilym Lewis, Anthony Mainwaring, Dylan Higgon, Carl Woodford, Roy (strictly spectator), Ryan Davies. Not pictured: Steve Richards, Leighton Rees, Trevor Morris, Anthony Driver, Mike Esney.
Tries: Higgon, R Davies
Conversion: Higgon

Llanelli Warriors: Dai Spriggs, Colin Davies (Lee Rowlands), Barry Walters, Dean Gilasbey, Rob Bevan, Roger Bowen, Colin Downey, Nigel Merrick (Chris Bonar), Jason Jenkins, Darel Watkins, John Horwood, Stephen Walley, Ray Millet, Dai Newson, Gwilym Lewis
Tries: Bevan (2), Newson, Walley
Conversions: Spriggs (2)
Man of the Match: Bevan

Ref: Gary James